Rudyard Kipling composed a poem in 1897 for the Diamond Jubilee (60th year) of Queen Victoria’s reign. It was a sobering, come-back-down-to-earth call in the midst of widespread rejoicing, and as such was not very popular at the time. Nevertheless, it has become one of his best-known poems, and is sung as a hymn… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: Recessional
Tag: Books
Owned!
Most readers are doubtless aware that author J. K. Rowling has made enemies among the “woke” by refusing to back down on the gender identity question. (Good for her, say I!) She’s just delivered the ultimate verbal slap in the face to one of her attackers. Clickit to biggit. Peter
Observations from Fredericksburg, TX
Book research done, Miss D. and I will be moving on today, heading for San Angelo, where Fort Concho was one of a chain of military installations that protected the West from Indian predations. The fort is well preserved, with many exhibits from the frontier era that provide fruitful material for writers. Here in… Continue reading Observations from Fredericksburg, TX
On the ground in Fredericksburg
Miss D. and I arrived safely in Fredericksburg, TX late yesterday afternoon, after a trip down the back roads of Texas, avoiding interstate highways. It was enjoyable to catch scenery one often bypasses on the main arteries, and also to see historically important sites of the German settlements in Texas and the wars with the… Continue reading On the ground in Fredericksburg
A short road trip
Miss D. and I will be on the road for a few days, doing research for a forthcoming book. As a result, blogging will be sparse; if I can fit in an article now and again, I will, but I don’t expect to do much of that. We’ll have a friend house-sit our cats,… Continue reading A short road trip
Some new books from friends
Several of my friends, fellow bloggers and fellow writers have published new books over the past few weeks. I’ve read all of them, and recommend them to you. I’ll list them in alphabetical order by author, to avoid offending anyone. First up is Rita Beeman, known in meatspace as Lawdog’s Lady. She has a… Continue reading Some new books from friends
Saturday Snippet: Nelson evacuates Corsica in the face of revolutionaries
Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson is perhaps the most famous of Britain’s “seadog Admirals”, earning a brilliant military reputation at battles such as Cape St. Vincent, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Nile and Copenhagen, before his final victory – and death – at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. One of his accomplishments was as a Captain in… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: Nelson evacuates Corsica in the face of revolutionaries
Saturday Snippet: One woman’s nightmare experience of hyperinflation
The news that natural gas costs in Europe are already ten times higher than a year ago, and likely to go higher this winter, has sparked near-panic in European governments. Electricity generation is directly affected, so overall energy prices are likely to reflect a similar increase. The average consumer in Europe simply can’t afford… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: One woman’s nightmare experience of hyperinflation
Saturday Snippet: A hunting blast from the past
I mentioned earlier this week that Cedar Sanderson’s hunting anthology “How Not to Shoot Fish, and Other Deer that Got Away” has just been published. I have a story in this anthology. It’s one I told more than a decade ago in these pages, so I’m sure most of you won’t remember it. I… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: A hunting blast from the past
How not to shoot fish!
That’s actually part of the title of a new anthology of hunting stories from Cedar Sanderson: “How Not to Shoot Fish, and Other Deer that Got Away“. The blurb reads: Twenty-one tales of hunting, fishing, and trapping make this volume of stories big enough to hold a drink in one hand while you read… Continue reading How not to shoot fish!