“Mine was a very happy childhood”

Road to the Dales: The Story of a Yorkshire Lad by Gervase Phinn

In his inimitably prosaic manner, Phinn recounts the life of an ordinary boy, who met some extraordinary people, and the journey he was able to embark on as a result of the many doors opened for him in his early life.

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Lost child in the chaos of war

City of Tears, by Kate Mosse

After King Henry of Navarre marries Marguerite de Valois, Paris becomes the scene of the St Bartholomew's Day massacre, and little Marta gets lost.

The assassin crouched in the tangled undergrowth, his finger and thumb stiff in position around the wheel-lock pistol. His gaze was fixed upon the highest point of the castle. He was ready, had been so since first light.

He had made his confession and prayed for deliverance. He had laid his offering at the grave in the woods of the previous châtelaine, a pious and devout Catholic lady murdered by Huguenot vermin. His soul was pure. Shriven.

He was ready to kill.

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Unravelled mysteries

The Atlas Legacy by Colin Newton

A small group of archaeologists of questionable qualification investigate Plato’s account of the advanced island state of Atlantis and its disappearance under the waves. Their research trips take them to Bolzano in Italy, Cornwall, Crete and Malta. In each location they find mysteriously linked artefacts, but soon discover that a group of social reformers is desperately trying to thwart their efforts at explaining their findings.

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Feminine audacity and spiritual depth

Once on a Hill in Tuscany by Alison Taylor-Brown

5 Stars

This collection of eleven short stories fascinated me and my wife as I read them aloud evening by evening. The cocky but sensitive Giulia is always good for some unexpected twist of events. The beautiful language and delightful use of simile drew me into the scenes. But the greatest merit of these tales is the spiritual insight revealed through the heroine’s reactions to her unexpected encounters.

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Soulish travels in Fairy Land

Phantastes by George Macdonald

The Complete Works of George MacDonald (Illustrated Edition) includes innumerable books, short stories, poems and sermons by this 19th century Scottish author and minister. A pioneer of fantasy literature, he strongly influenced many fellow writers, such as Lewis Carroll and C. S. Lewis.

This is a brief review of one of the books: Phantastes.

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Ups and downs of an influencer

The diary of Isabella M Smugge by Ruth Leigh

Is this just a humorous tale of a rich young mother with a delightful family and innumerable online followers?

Financed by her weekend-only, hedge-fund banker husband and her successful social media postings, Isabella and her wonderful children have recently moved from London to a huge ex-rectory in the countryside. She keeps fit with her morning swims and vegan snacks, and spends her days posting photos to social media. Meanwhile, her Latvian au pair cares lovingly for the children, the gardener who came with the house proves very competent, and her cleaner does all the dirty work. What more could she desire in life?

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