Tag Archives: Britain

Of kidneys, the Lionheart, and Star Trek

Posted on June 18, 2022 by smellincoffee

Ever since my kidney transplant Tuesday, I’ve seen doctors, surgeons, and nurses on a daily basis with updates. They’re all very pleased about the progress I’m making toward recovery: my new kidneys (I received two, from a deceased juvenile) are … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Crusader

Posted on April 27, 2022 by smellincoffee

Crusader© 2021 Ben Kane426 pages Lionheart introduced readers to Rufus, an Irish noble turned household knight in the court of England’s own King Richard. Exiled to England as a surety for his father’s good behavior, made an orphan by insurrection … Continue reading →

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Churchill’s Shadow Raiders

Posted on April 18, 2022 by smellincoffee

Churchill’s Shadow Raiders: The Race to Develop Radar, World War II’s Invisible Secret Weapon© 2020 Damien Lewis 416 pages A decade ago, in reading Electric Universe, I was delighted to learn about Operation BITING, one of World War 2’s more extraordinary … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Churchill’s Band of Brothers

Posted on April 14, 2022 by smellincoffee

Band of Brothers: WW2’s Most Daring D-Day Mission and the Hunt to Take Down Hitler’s War Criminals© 2021 Damien Lewis400 pages A few months back, I read D-Day Girls, a history of SOE operatives who prepared the way for Operation … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Lionheart

Posted on April 6, 2022 by smellincoffee

Lionheart© 2020 Ben Kane400 pages A noble son of Ireland is transported to England as a hostage to secure his father’s loyalty, and the adventure of a lifetime begins. Abused and ill-treated by the petty lords who are given custody … Continue reading →

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Brothers and Friends

Posted on January 6, 2022 by smellincoffee

Brothers and Friends: The Diaries of Major Warren Hamilton Lewis© 1981 Warren Lewis, ed. Clyde S. Kilby and Marjorie Mead301 pages Reading of C.S. Lewis’ life and letters, I often encounter his brother Warnie Lewis, and regard him with complete … Continue reading →

Posted in Classics and Literary, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Watership Down

Posted on November 19, 2021 by smellincoffee

Watership Down© 1972 Richard Adams413 pages A small community sits on the precipice of destruction, but the few who realize it are unable to fully warn their comrades. A small band leave everything they’ve ever known behind, to face the … Continue reading →

Posted in Classics and Literary, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments

For all the Tea in China

Posted on October 28, 2021 by smellincoffee

For all the Tea in China: How England Stole the World’s Favorite Drink and Made History© 2010 Sarah Rose272 pages A love of tea is one of the great English stereotypes, at least in the United States, so I thought … Continue reading →

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The Disappeared

Posted on August 6, 2021 by smellincoffee

The Disappeared© 2019 Amy Lord368 pages Clara Winter was only a child when her father disappeared. A poet and English teacher, he made the mistake of criticizing Britain’s new order, the martial rule imposed on it after a terrorist attack … Continue reading →

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Obey little, bake much: The Choice

Posted on August 5, 2021 by smellincoffee

The Choice© 2019 Claire Ward400 pages “Let them eat cake,” Marie Antoinette supposedly said of the people too poor to buy bread, and the words inspired revolution. The Choice throws that on its head, and makes it rallying cry — … Continue reading →

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