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Three Women of Herat by Veronica Doubleday
I think I share a common conception, or misconception, of Afghanistan, a country that has always seemed distant, alien and mysterious to many of us, which is more likely to…
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So, Stranger by Topaz Winters
So, Stranger is the third collection of poems by Topaz Winters and my first foray into her work, so wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, which in some ways creates…
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Antarctic Pioneer The Trailblazing Life of Jackie Ronne by Joanna Kafarowski
Jackie Ronne reclaims her rightful place in polar history as the first American woman in Antarctica. The aim of this book is clearly to set the record straight and to…
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Woman, Watching – Louise de Kirilene Lawrence and the Songbirds of Pimisi Bay by Merilyn Simonds
Woman, Watching - Louise de Kirilene Lawrence and the Songbirds of Pimisi Bay is a remarkable title, but I now understand that Mrs Lawrence was quite a remarkable woman. Biographies…
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Shalimar: A Story of Place & Migration by Davina Quinlivan
I wasn't sure what to expect with Shalimar: A Story of Place & Migration, the wonderful debut novel from author Davina Quinlivan. I've read a fair bit on areas such as…
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I Belong Here: A Journey Along the Backbone of Britain
Anita Sethi begins her book I Belong Here with an account of racial abuse. Travelling on the TransPennine Express train, a man insults her, saying, amongst other things too vile…
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The Turkish Embassy Letters
To say these are a collection of the best letter writing of the eighteenth century really would be understating the importance and brilliance of The Turkish Embassy Letters. A collection…
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Letters From Egypt
In 1862, after contracting Tuberculosis, Lucie Duff Gordon’s travelled to Egypt, not just seeking adventure but hoping to improve her dwindling health. Her Letters from Egypt are not just random…
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Witchcraft: A Secret History
I’ve always had a fascination with the supernatural, having lived in a number of places that can only be called ‘haunted’ and had numerous events in my life which I…
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The Sensitive Son
I often wonder what inspires an author to write on a particular topic, what is it that ignited that initial spark that launched the adventure of a new book? For…