Something Fishy

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. (I Thessalonians iv:11)

A War Trilogy

I am re-reading these three Brother Cadfael short stories out of nostalgia and because this slim volume fits into the pocket of my top coat.

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A Rising Man

“… the Bengal Civilian who goes to Writers’ Buildings and sits in a perfect office and speaks flippantly of ‘sending things into India,’ meaning thereby he refers matters to the Supreme Government. He is a great person, and his mouth is full of promotion-and-appointment ‘shop.’ Generally he is referred to as a ‘rising man.’ Calcutta seems… Continue reading A Rising Man

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Young Mungo

Going from Angela’s Ashes to Young Mungo is like going from gin and tonic to crack. I didn’t expect to read anything more depressing about life in a tenement than AA. Now I have.

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Brideshead Revisited

George’s recent comment here about Evelyn Waugh’s (Wu as Conrad calls him) generous opinion of Conrad Russell was written after Conrad’s death. He had not had an opportunity to read Conrad’s letters.

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April is the Cruelest Month

Thank you to friends wishing me a happy 68th birthday on Sunday: here, by post and email. I had a home-made birthday cake with candles (not 68).