Susan Hated Literature

Harriette Wilson, the woman who blackmailed the king
Author: Frances Wilson
ISBN: 0571205240 DDC: 941.073092
See also: LibraryThing ; Other reviews

Harriette Wilson’s Memoirs omit both time and place; there are no addresses given, no locations described, no elections, diseases, or wars. “Dates make ladies nervous and stories dry,” she wrote.

It has taken me quite a while to finish this book. Usually that isn’t a very good sign, it means I’ve not really being all that interested in it, but usually I don’t read non-fiction. Whenever I do it always takes me longer to get through.

This is the story of Harriette Wilson who grew up to become a courtesan in Regency London. The woman whose Memoirs caused a scandal, and raised her quite a bit of cash, as those named began to buy her silence. But as well as that it is a story of how few options there were available to women at that time. It was a case of be married or be damned. Harriette seems to have chosen the damned option. It was her book that led to the, now famous, if incorrect line by Wellington, “publish and be damned”.

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gladiators, musketeers, samurai warriors, swashbucklers, and Olympians
Author: Richard Cohen
ISBN: 0330482297
796.8609
See also: Library Thing

Thirty years ago I fought the only duel of my life. It wouldn’t have satisfied the dictionary definition, which requires that deadly weapons be used - competition sabers are hardly that - but it was certainly a “prearranged formal combat between two persons, fought to settle a point of honor.”

This book took me quite a while to finish, but I wouldn’t hold that against it, as it often takes me a while to finish a non-fiction book. Obviously enough the storyline isn’t quite a gripping as many novels, but it was still an entertaining read.

It is a history of fencing and sword-fighting in general. Covering from Roman times right up the present Olympic games. If you find the subject matter interesting, then I’m sure you’ll like this book. The style is quite conversational, but it also provides plenty of information and details. There is also a bibliography and index for further reading if you so desire.

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Luna Nina says:

1. Incomplete ::
2. Bobby ::
3. Chopstick ::
4. Trauma ::
5. Hesitate ::
6. Leap ::
7. Magnify ::
8. Yards ::
9. Alexander ::
10. Fracture ::

mine’ll be under the cut.

I’m all caught up on Heroes now, and have to wait until Jan 22nd for the next episode, but its no big deal because while I’m liking it, I’m not loving and needing more and more of it. It is, in many ways, quite predictable and I hate the previously voice-over man sections. They are just bad.

I took Manny to back to the shop yesterday, but while they are willing to replace him they don’t have any in stock at the moment, so I’ll be heading back next week. Luckily I live just round the corner so don’t have far to go.

I’ve just finished reading A year in the centre by Brian O’Driscoll which I enjoyed more than I thought I would. It is a diary of the year he was Lions captain, so plenty of bits of interest to any rugby fans.

Over at Crooked Timber they are marking the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls. This was when the Irish aristocracy fled the country after an unsuccessful rebellion against the ebil invading Englanders. It’s an interesting whatif article, as it takes a quick look at how Irish history might have been different with an established native aristocracy in place. Reckon it was probably for the best in the long run, but then again, I am anti-aristocracy, so no real surprise there. Although I do kinda wonder how on earth there are still titles such as Earl of Longford^[1] that are inherited by posh British folks. Surely after the War of Independence we should have gotten rid of all those peers? Not that I know anything about how they are organised or whatever. I merely object on moral grounds.

When I was reading A Year in the Centre BOD describes how Prince William turned up and he seemed like a nice fella, but I was thinking how if I met any royalty^[2] then I would probably resent using their formal titles. I’d make exception for the head of state, because I’d expect any citizen of any other country to have respect for our Pres, but any of their family members? Like whatever!

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And the Intelligence Operations of Michael Collins
Author: T.Ryle Dwyer
ISBN: 1856354695
DDC: 941.5082
See also: Library Thing; Google Scholar; The Bureau of Military History

Michael Collins is frequently cited as the originator of modern urban terrorism. The British characterised his Squad as ‘the murder gang’ and had they knowingly captured members of of the Squad they would almost certainly have exectued them.

Irish history is full of revolutionaries and failed rebellions, of informers giving information to the English, and spies infiltrating Irish organisations. Michael Collins recognised the importance of the intelligence network and so in 1919 he formulated a plan to blind the eyes of Dublin Castle by ensuring that the police force were as terrorised and demoralised as possible.

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An Informal History 1916-1966
Author: Peter Sommerville-Large
ISBN: 0712665323
DDC: 941.5082

Early on Easter Sunday 23 April 1916 in Liberty Hall, the painter Christopher Brady carried out his commission of printing the document that would proclaim the Irish Republic

As the subtitle says, this is a history of Ireland between the years 1916 and 1966, 50 years of change and turmoil. As the informal part of the title may indicate it isn’t the most official of accounts. More of a personal recollection of the history. Not of it all, the author wasn’t alive in 1916, but a great deal concerns his family and how they reacted to the events.

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A Short History of Everybody for the last 13,000 years
Author: Jared Diamond
ISBN: 0099302780
DDC: 304.209

This book attempts to provide a short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years. The question motivating the book is this: Why did history unfold differently on different continents?

As that opening sentence tells you, this is a book all about the history of humankind on earth. About why Europeans became the colonial powers and the Australian Aborigines didn’t. Or at least suggesting reasons why this is so.

It never occured to me that such a question might be a racist one, or indeed that an explanation for why a certain group of people came to

Yet many (perhaps most!) Westerners continue to accept racist explanations privately or subconsciously.

And I would have to disagree with him, at least on a personal note. Maybe it is because a former colony we Irish would be less willing to accept that the reason we were colonised and dominated by our neighbour is because of any genetic inferiority.

Personally I’ve always assumed that it was simply down to accidents of history, and Diamond points out that more than that, it was down to accidents of geography. In essence Europe and Asia, linked as they are, form a continent with the most natural resources that can be domesticated and developed. And because it is the largest land mass on the globe, Eurasia can hold more people, more people lead to more competition, and to technological advances.

There is a bit more to the book that this, but nevertheless that is in essence Diamond’s reason. And I’d agree with him. Accident of geography, rather than any inherited difference in intellect or ability.

Overall this is a very readable book, which important given that it is quite a large, non-fiction title. Occasionally Diamond repeats ideas and conclusions, but given that certain circumstances occur more than once this can be excused.

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A history of power, love and greed in 11th-century England
Author Harriet O Brien
ISBN 0747574898
DDC: 942.018092
Read with Medieval Britain book group

She looks a little peevish, although this would not have been the intention of the artist

This is the story of Queen Emma, by birth a Norman, who married two kings of England. Her first marriage was as peacemaker between her family and England. Her second came about because Cnut defeated her first husband and came to power. She was, in effect, the spoils.

But Emma was not a woman to be taken lightly, nor was she one to sit back and let events unfold. This book attempts to show her as an active, manipulating Queen, one who held power in her own right.

The problem of course is that there really isn’t all that much evidence left to us today about the people of the 11th century. And what does remain may not be strictly true. Emma herself commissioned a book to be written about the times she lived through. But this cannot be believed as it is not merely a recording of events, but a piece of political propaganda. Despite the lack of evidence, O’Brien has created an interesting, readable book. I’m too sure if her method of interspersing speculation and motivation of character really ever worked for me. But overall it is an interesting account of a woman I’d never heard of before.

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