This month I am late for my usual book presentation, and the reason is, as you might imagine, what’s happening on Mars, which is taking up a big part of my work schedule and virtually all my free time. So, even find the mental space to think about anything else has become a bit complicated. Anyway, here’s my offering for the month.
- A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel. Yes, I am an unapologetic Mantel’s fan. I really love the way she writes historical fiction, and she’s one of the best in this field. This novel takes us to a different setting from Tudor’s England though, and this one of the reasons I picked it up. I wanted to see how well she handles a notoriously difficult period to write about: the French Revolution. She does it brilliantly. Highly recommended.
- With Napoleon in Russia by Armand A.L. de Caulaincourt. Just to remain in France with the most famous of the French Revolution’s men –Napoleon. This is not fiction, but history, written by a soldier and diplomat who accompanied Napoleon in the ill-fated expedition to Moscow, who cost him his army and his empire. “Recognized as the most important Napoleonic source discovered in the last hundred years, the three-volume memoirs of Napoleon’s Master of Horse are also exceptionally well written, and vividly portray Napoleon during his disastrous last years of power. The memoirs of one Napoleon’s most senior ministers and closest advisors, with whom he was often very candid, remained unpublished for over a century since they were left by Armand de Caulaincourt, unearthed with by Jean Hanoteau who was eminently familiar with the period, and on part of the French Ministry of War’s historical section” (read more here).
- White Gold by Giles Milton. Again this is not fiction, but it does read as one-a horror book. It’s the history of white slaves in North Africa in the 18 century. “Drawing on letters, journals and manuscripts written by the slaves . . . Milton has produced a disturbing account of the barbaric splendour of the imperial Moroccan court, which he brings to life with considerable panache…White Gold is an engrossing story, expertly told.”
What are you reading right now? Let me know in the comments or by social media.
I’ve been following all the Mars news but not closely. I just hope none of the vehicles bump into each other in Mars orbit! I just finished a fun, fast read — “The Boy from the Woods” by Harlan Coben. I’m now reading another novel in the Miles Vorkosigan saga by Lois McMaster Bujold: “Ethan of Athos.” I’ll probably read a John Le Carre novel after that although I’m not certain which one.
Bujold and Le Carre’ are among my favourites, hope you enjoy!Re: Le Carre,try the Little Drummer Girl, if you don’t have read it yet.
I did pick up the Mantel once, but the sheer bulk soon defeated me, I have to admit. White Gold does look interesting, though.
I’ve just finished Ursula Le Guin’s extraordinary faux historical romance Malafrena. Supposedly inspired by her reading of Russian novels, this is set in a fictional European country Orsinia in the run up to 1830, the year of uprisings in Italy, Poland, France and the attainment of Greek independence. A brilliant read.
I also simultaneously reread the second of the Harry Potter books as an amuse-bouche, and am contemplating what to go for next: a return to Angela Carter’s Nights at the Circus or Eliot’s Middlemarch (both of which I temporarily put aside, though not because they weren’t good), or Andrzej Sapkowski’s Blood of Elves in his Witcher series. Or maybe something completely different…
Malafrena looks positively awesome, thank you for the suggestion. I used to enjoy a lot Angela Carter, maybe it’s time to get back and have a read…
I haven’t read any other Mantel other than the Thomas Cromwell series – but I shall look this one out. Thank you for the recommendation.