This is a gorgeous small primer introducing us to sports-related writing in British literature – although overwhelmingly English – from Shakespeare toThis is a gorgeous small primer introducing us to sports-related writing in British literature – although overwhelmingly English – from Shakespeare to Orwell. It’s mainly literary, with some journalism and reportage but dominated by fiction and poetry. A delight to dip into, and perhaps the perfect gift for that sporty type who plays round in literary pasts, or for the back pocket for those of us who that description fits. ...more
Time travelling historians, eccentric academics, the prospect of skulduggery: what’s not to like? The premise seemed so intriguing and promising…. alaTime travelling historians, eccentric academics, the prospect of skulduggery: what’s not to like? The premise seemed so intriguing and promising…. alas the outcome less so. The problem is I’m not sure why, except that none of the characters is all that likeable (but antiheroes and misanthropy have never really been a problem before so I doubt it is that) but I suspect it that they are unconvincing.
I really did want to like this more, even though so much of what these time travelling historians are supposed to do ‘confirm the timeline’ is at odds with my view of what we as historians actually do, but it’s a novel so I suspend belief. I know there is an awful lot of world building in the first volume of a series, but I think I would have liked them to do less and get a little more depth both to the world-of-the-series and the characters. What’s more, throughout we are left with little that is convincing the motivations of the baddies. All in all, untaxingly entertaining but disappointing – or maybe just not my thing....more
This is a favourite, and often re-read. Jane is annoying and refreshing, the narrative powerful and compelling, and the tone just right. There is a reThis is a favourite, and often re-read. Jane is annoying and refreshing, the narrative powerful and compelling, and the tone just right. There is a reason why it is called a classic....more
Towards the end of the 1980s the New Zealand historian J O C Phillips published his excellent history of New Zealand Pakeha masculinity A Man’s CountrTowards the end of the 1980s the New Zealand historian J O C Phillips published his excellent history of New Zealand Pakeha masculinity A Man’s Country? and quickly came under fire from some of our more conservative practitioners of the discipline for relying on novels for large sections of the discussion of 19th century male culture; this criticism confused the fictional with the unreal. Hugh de Selincourt’s thoroughly enjoyable mid ‘20s comic novel about a village cricket match in the fictional Surrey village of Tillingford is a fine piece of evidence for why we should not do that.
The story turns around a match against a neighbouring village, Raveley. It has passion, laughter, joy and pleasure as well as disquiet over the seeming ‘ring-in’, drama as the match draws to a close, hero worship on the part of lads for the fathers and elders and what the British sports historians Dick Holt and Tony Mason called the “quiet harbours of casual exertion and sociability” that are sports clubs. What is more, the novel takes place over the course of the day from players awakening to Tillingford fielding and the day drawing to a close.
Light, witty and with a sharp eye for both the foibles of the game and subtle and not so subtle hierarchies and relations of village life. Even as the game plays itself out and class relations spread across the oval – itself a solely masculine space – competency and civility weave together to ensure that feelings are, as much as possible, not hurt while doing as much as can be done to enhance the chance of winning. This is a fabulous study of the cultural order that is sport and the social order that is the village. In short, it is excellent evidence that Phillips’ critics were wrong, and the novel and fine historical source. On top of that, it is a delightful read....more
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." One of the great opening lines"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." One of the great opening lines (a state shared with Anna Karenina) leads to one of the most enjoyable and entertaining books out. Austen's construction of both narrative and dialogue makes her stand out as a wonderful author. Gotta love this book....more
"One of the few English novels written for grown-up people", according to Virginia Wolff, and great big novels of ideas and people in a small town. Do"One of the few English novels written for grown-up people", according to Virginia Wolff, and great big novels of ideas and people in a small town. Dorothea Brooke is one of the great women in 19th century English fiction, and this assuredly one of England's finest feels like 300 rather than 840 pages....more
At the risk if giving it all away, it is a treat to read a Bronte novel with pretty much a happy ending: no fires and scarring, no romance with ghostsAt the risk if giving it all away, it is a treat to read a Bronte novel with pretty much a happy ending: no fires and scarring, no romance with ghosts, or any of those other things here. Agnes Grey, based on Anne Bronte's seemingly miserable life as a governess, is a damning indictment of the parlous positions of these servants-but-not-servants in 19th century households. In its expose it became a valuable tool for those campaigning for a better life and better conditions for governesses. In lacking the tightness of focus of some her sisters' novels, Agnes Grey paints a complex picture of the lives of young, unmarried middle class women in Britain in the first half of the 19th century: it is also a crackingly good novel....more
This is a fabulous idea – Regency bildungsroman meets schlock-horror gore – that just does not work. I admit that I am an Austen fan, and think that iThis is a fabulous idea – Regency bildungsroman meets schlock-horror gore – that just does not work. I admit that I am an Austen fan, and think that is one of fiction's finest composers of dialogue; it is precisely this crispness of dialogue that is missing from this rewrite/adaptation/reinterpretation. I adore the notion of Lizzie Bennett as a Shaolin trained, action queen slaying zombies and, from time to time, members of Lady Catherine de Bourgh's army of ninja's, that Charlotte Lucas's wasting disease is a zombie virus infection, and all these other redirections of the established plot aspects to incorporate the undead. Alas, I suspect that Seth Grahame-Smith is just not up to the task of adapting Austen to the George Romero crew. Lest this be taken as a defensive Austen reader, I really did want this to work – good parody (and good schlock-parody in particular) is wonderful – and am more than a little disappointed that it did not, sadly....more
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