Tag Archives: Britain

The Winter King

Posted on October 20, 2012 by smellincoffee

The Winter King: a Story of Arthur© 1997 Bernard Cornwell433 pages The high king of Britain is dead, and the land lies in peril. Surrounded by implacable enemies, from the vicious Irish to the aggressive and hungry Saxon invaders, scarcely … Continue reading →

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A History of the World in Six Glasses

Posted on May 24, 2012 by smellincoffee

A History of the World in Six Glasses© 2006 Tom Standage311 pages A toast to human enterprise! Pick your poison — beer, wine, rum, tea, coffee, or Coca-Cola. Three are alcoholic, three are caffienated: all were the stuff of empires, … Continue reading →

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Salt

Posted on April 24, 2012 by smellincoffee

Salt: A World History© 2003 Mark Kurlansky498 pages Last Autumn, my doctor advised me to start watching the amount of salt in my diet, and so I did. That this was a concern surprised me: I was never one to … Continue reading →

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A Conspiracy of Paper

Posted on April 22, 2012 by smellincoffee

A Conspiracy of Paper© 2000 David Liss442 pages Benjamin Weaver is a man with a curious trade. Having left the family business years ago, in his early days he earned acclaim for his skills as a boxer, introducing a ‘scientific’ … Continue reading →

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Death of Kings

Posted on March 25, 2012 by smellincoffee

Death of Kings© 2011 Bernard Cornwell325 pages Let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings… (Richard II, William Shakespeare) Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, lays on his deathbed. Aged and long infirm, … Continue reading →

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The Age of Louis XIV

Posted on February 23, 2012 by smellincoffee

The Age of Louis XIV© 1963 Will and Ariel Durant816 pages To read Will Durant is to feast from the smorgasbord of human history. Before the reader lies the full scope of human concern, frailty, and accomplishment, like so many … Continue reading →

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The Age of Reason Begins

Posted on October 26, 2011 by smellincoffee

The Age of Reason Begins© 1961 Will and Aerial Durant729 pages “We are all citizens of one world, we are all of one blood. To hate a man because he was born in another county, because he speaks a different … Continue reading →

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Gallows Thief

Posted on April 1, 2011 by smellincoffee

Gallows Thief© 2002 Bernard Cornwell297 pages It’s the year 1817, and the conflict between England and Napoleon which dominated the minds of Europe for nearly two decades is finally over — and yet, still haunting those who survived it. Captain … Continue reading →

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With Wings Like Eagles

Posted on February 28, 2011 by smellincoffee

With Wings Like Eagles: A History of the Battle of Britain© 2009 Michael Korda322  pages “The odds were great: our margins small: the stakes infinite.” – Vice Air Marshal Keith Park, No. 11 Group. RAF. As far as drama goes, … Continue reading →

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Agincourt

Posted on February 5, 2011 by smellincoffee

Agincourt© 2009 Bernard Cornwell451 pages “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers — for he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother, be he ne’er so vile.  This day shall gentle his condition, and … Continue reading →

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