Creaking Masts

Always a sucker for creaking mast sagas, I was unable to resist Under Enemy Colours by Sean Thomas Russell. Set, as this genre is, in the Napoleonic wars Russell follows in the distinguished footsteps of CS Forrester and Patrick O’Brian and manages to recreate that peculiar world with colour, excitement and great panache. By way of contrast I read the first in the Melrose series by Edward St Aubyn, Never Mind. The fifth Melrose novel, Lost For Words, has just been published to rave reviews. Despite one of the most unpleasant lead characters in modern fiction, this is a compelling book full of psychological and philosophical insight and dexterous prose.

Liss resident, Classic FM editor and author Sam Jackson is coming to One Tree next Saturday (7th June at 10.am) to sign copies of his new book Diary of a Desperate Dad: One Man’s Guide to Family Life from 0 – 5. This started out life as a very popular blog (diaryofadesperatedad.com) and is full of humour and insight.