BOOK OF THE WEEK THE WELL-GARDENED MIND by Sue Stuart-Smith (William Collins £20, 352pp) Back in 1915 Alexander Douglas Gillespie, an officer with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, wrote a letter home from the battlefields of Northern France. He told how ‘a big shell suddenly swooped down from nowhere into the trench, killing five and … Read more
MEMOIR THE BOY WITH TWO HEARTS by Hamed Amiri (Icon £16.99, 288pp) In 2001, when Hamed Amiri was ten years old, his mother made a speech declaring that women ‘have the same rights as men’. In Taliban-ruled Herat, Afghanistan, this was a radical statement, and a dangerous one: that night, the Mullah called for her … Read more
Julian Rota who spends his spare time volunteering at Trindledown Farm in Berkshire, has penned a memoir about his experiences. He reveals it’s rewarding to gain the animals trust.
HISTORY THE HISTORY OF MAGIC by Chris Gosden (Viking £25, 512pp) The 2011 Census revealed that 56,620 of us said we were pagans, 11,766 described themselves as Wiccans and 1,276 people confessed they were signed up to witchcraft. Twenty-seven per cent of the British population also maintained that ‘communication with the dead is possible’. Some … Read more
WHAT BOOK would fashion guru and writer Susannah Constantine take to a desert island? Susannah Constantine is currently reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara She would take WinterDance by Gary Paulsen to a desert island British fashion guru revealed The Grapes Of Wrath left her cold By Daily Mail Reporter Published: 22:01 BST, 25 … Read more
POPULAR FICTION By Wendy Holden for the Daily Mail Published: 22:02 BST, 25 June 2020 | Updated: 22:02 BST, 25 June 2020 THE FAMILY HOLIDAY by Elizabeth Noble (Michael Joseph £7.99, 432pp) THE FAMILY HOLIDAY by Elizabeth Noble (Michael Joseph £7.99, 432pp) Charlie Chamberlain wants to mark his 80th birthday in style. He hires a … Read more
SOCIETY A HISTORY OF SOLITUDE by David Vincent (Polity £25, 304pp) The past three months have put the fickle relationship between solitude and loneliness under the spotlight like never before. As lockdown starts to lift, many of us, long cooped up alone, are gratefully seizing the chance to reunite with loved ones in ‘support bubbles’. … Read more
We’re all going on a summer holiday! Charming new book presents a series of heartwarming snaps to celebrate the history of traditional seaside trips in Britain Kathryn Ferry explores the history of seaside objects in a charming new tome Among the photos is a family of middle-aged ladies and gents on an outing The craze … Read more
HISTORY ON ASSASSINATIONS by Kenneth Baker (Unicorn £20, 256pp) Too close for comfort and too often — that is Tory grandee Lord (Kenneth) Baker’s personal experience of assassinations. In 1979, he was in the library of the House of Commons when he heard the bang and felt the shock as, just yards away, a bomb … Read more
PICTURE BOOKS By Sally Morris for the Daily Mail Published: 22:03 BST, 18 June 2020 | Updated: 22:03 BST, 18 June 2020 I’M STICKING WITH YOU by Smriti Halls Illustrated by Steve Small (S&S £12.99, 32pp) I’M STICKING WITH YOU by Smriti Halls Illustrated by Steve Small (S&S £12.99, 32pp) Small children need love, reassurance … Read more