Linkissage
Spotted in the wild today, Virago reissue of Stella Gibbons' delightful Nightingale Wood. Unlike Cold Comfort Farm, but charming nonetheless. (The intro by Sophie Dahl looked extremely slight, however.)
[T]his enchanting selection of writing from books by seven Victorian female horticulturists will both nourish your soul and tell you what to do about geranium droop: this is in the audiobooks roundup, but presumably is also available in print form.
Two new books on the menopause. Is Going Through The Change the new hot thing?
Another daft hook for a travel book.
Wow, Dept of Nifty Damn-with-Faint-Praise: Tom Holland on Frank McLynn's new big fat book on Marcus Aurelius:
The general reader, whose interest may have been piqued by a reading of the Meditations or a viewing of Gladiator, is likely to find much of it intimidatingly dry, for when discussing the social and economic background to Marcus's reign, McLynn is much given to the lengthy rehearsal of lists. Conversely, specialists may well find many of its conclusions decidedly eccentric; McLynn is nothing if not aggressively opinionated. Yet with just a bit of cutting, and just a little less self-indulgence, this would be a most enjoyable and valuable book.
And further on leaders and power: To the Ancient Greeks, hubris was an act of arrogance and presumption that offended the gods. For Lord Owen, leader of the ill-fated SDP in the 1980s, and himself accused of overweening pride during those turbulent times, it is a medical disorder that can turn prime ministers and presidents into despots.
Ben Goldacre suggests that media reporting of suicides may be TMI.
And review of interesting-sounding novel about scientific fraud, or is it?
Women politicians and personal sartorial style -even the French find this a hard line to negotiate, with bonus comments on the way they are used to put down British women in politically powerful positions.
The BNP - still totally failing Cluefulness 101. Wot next, we ask ourselves, mindful of their recent Vera Lynn debacle - the Red Choir does The Internationale?
Oh, I wish that The Guardian put its Saturday 'Disturbing Animal Picture of the Week' in its online version. Last week the spineless hedgehog (waaaaah), this week, the naked mole-rat (who so ought to be called Little Willy, yes, sometimes I am 13).