“Go back to your books, to your armchair. Plant your trees, watch them grow. If more people valued home above gold, this world would be a merrier place.”

— Thorin Oakenshield

Latest Posts


  • The Wine of Solitude

    The Wine of Solitude, published in 1935,translated into English by Sandra Smith in 2011, The Wine of Solitude is a sad sort of book, and although it ends on a note of hope that feeling of sadness remains, because we… Continue reading

  • French Connections

    Paris! The Eiffel Tower is an instantly recognisable image of the city, and this photo (which I took a few years back) conjures up memories of happy holidays. OK people, I’m still in French mode for Paris in July, so let’s start… Continue reading

  • Revolution and Markets in Paris

    I love Paris, but it’s a while since I’ve been there and, sadly, I’m unlikely to make it this year either, so I’m making do with a ‘virtual’ trip to the city, thanks to Paris in July, a month-long celebration… Continue reading

  • I’m in Shiny New Books!

    Woo hoo! I am so excited because those nice people at Shiny New Books have used one of my reviews in their summer edition. They’ve featured a shortened version of the piece I wrote about The Moor: Lives Landscape Literature,… Continue reading

  • Pulp Fiction – Classic Covers!

    While trawling around the internet I came across these… Classic novels and plays with pulp fiction covers!!! They’re not necessarily to my taste (I lust after those wonderful old Virago Modern Classics, with the dark green spines and paintings on… Continue reading