My chosen poem this week is by the English poet, performance poet, broadcaster, children’s author and playwright Roger McGough (1937).
A Good Poem
I like a good poem
one with lots of fighting
in it. Blood, and the
clanging of armour. Poems
against Scotland are good,
and poems that defeat
the French with crossbows.
I don't like poems that
aren't about anything.
Sonnets are wet and
a waste of time.
Also poems that don't
know how to rhyme.
If I was a poem
I'd play football and
get picked for England.
Robert McGough
The good, the bad and the mad – a lively text, accurate but full of fascinating detail and fun coupled with the outstanding innovative illustrations from some of the country’s most inventive illustrators. Kings and Queens have always provided their subjects with a great deal to talk about. But how much do we really know about them? For instance, who became king when he was only nine months old? Which king invented the handkerchief? Which king died on the toilet? And who is England’s longest reigning monarch?In this fascinating and witty look at kings and queens of England, Tony Robinson provides all the answers to these questions and many, many more.
Review
This book has been sat in a bag waiting to be read for quite a while and as I was having a particularly bad week I thought it looked like a book that would make me laugh and bring a smile to my face. Thankfully, it did not disappoint.
Robinson’s brief history of the monarchy starts right at the beginning and goes all the way through to Elizabeth II and it is accompanied by some fun illustrations as well. The other thing I really enjoyed is the little facts you also get of what else was happening in history during certain kings’ and queens’ reigns. For example, when the sandwich was invented and when afternoon tea became popular. There were also serious facts such as when America was discovered and when the slave trade was abolished. I really enjoyed the mix of serious and fun facts though.
This mix of serious and fun facts was also included in the history of the monarchs. We get the serious facts and the bizarre facts which I have never come across. I know this book is aimed more at older children/teenagers but I think it was a joy to read and a great little resource to dip into when trying to remember which one of the Henry’s did what. There were a lot of kings named Henry!
You all know I have an obsession with the Tudor period but by reading this book I have discovered several monarchs I would love to learn more about and so I think this book has fuelled some further reading. Due to the nature of the book giving brief and interesting biographies of each monarch it means it can fuel you a hunger to know more and so further your love of history.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book but I must be honest it did come across that perhaps Robinson is not a fan of the modern day monarchy. Although he has since stated that he is now a monarchist after seeing Elizabeth II’s dedicated service. I think this is a great little book for children and adults and give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.
(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)
About the author
Sir Tony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, amateur historian, TV presenter, author and political activist. He is known for playing “Baldrick” in the BBC television series Blackadder and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History.
The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you will read next?
Hello!
I hope everyone is having a good week so far. My reading has been reasonably good so far this week. I’m hoping to finish one more book before the end of the month.
What I am Currently Reading
I needed a comfort read this week so I went to my favourite book series. Dr Ruth Galloway never fails to bring a smile to my face.
What I have Recently Finished Reading
I could not put The Beautiful Ones down and I think it must be one of my favourite reads for 2023. I really enjoyed Kings and Queens by Tony Robinson, it was quite interesting to read a book about the monarchy by someone who is clearly quite anti-monarchy.
What I Think I will Read Next
As per usual I have no idea what I will be reading next but here are some possibilities.
Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.
Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club. All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.
Happy Monday!
I hope everyone has had a good start to the week so far. Mine has been super busy with teaching so sadly I have only managed to read the grand total of 4 pages so far today.
My chosen book this week is one by one of my favourite authors, Martha Wells. I absolutely love her books and can’t wait to read this one.
After being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of the passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to find a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai’s magic to his own advantage. That was never going to go well.
But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the world since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear to be growing in influence?
Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he is to answer even the least of these questions.
He’s not going to like the answers.
Please drop me a link with your Goodreads Monday and I will head over for a visit.
I hope everyone has had a nice weekend so far. Sadly I haven’t managed much reading this weekend but hopefully I will manage something during the weekend.
I have been busy with the Etsy shop recently so I thought it was time to show the new things that have been added to the shop. I hate to say it but I have already started stocking Christmas products.
I hope everyone has had a good week so far. My chosen poem this week is by the English architect, artist-craftsman and poet Charles Wade (1883-1956). Wade is best known for assembling the large collection of items at Snowshill Manor.
In an old House Vistas abound
‘In an old House Vistas abound
In Modern House rarely are found,
Glimpses seen through an open door
The gleam of Sun on ancient floor.
From shade to light, from light to shade
All such sense of enchantment made,
The unexpected, the unknown
Never is all displayed and shown.
There lies a fascinating way
Down which one can but long to stray.
No longer Rooms to next one go
No longer can such Vistas show.
Now Corridors to Boxes lead,
Called Rooms, in this drab Age of speed.
Each Box alike, but little change
In rows like Penal Cells, they range.
The Stairway but to reach next height
Not one of Fantasy, delight,
Or may be Flat, no stair at all
So flattest dullness overall.
No mysteries above, below,
All that exists is there on show,
There are but few who heed their loss,
‘Tis MODERN – so the best of course!’
Charles Wade
The Wolf-Girl, The Greeks and the Gods by Tom Holland
Blurb
“The Persians are coming…” Hearing these words, Gorgo of Sparta is plunged into a dangerous world of vengeful gods and invincible heroes. For a mighty empire threatens Athens, Sparta and all who stand in its path… Calling on the ancient power to transform into a wolf and the blood of Zeus that runs through her veins, Gorgo must lead her nation in one of history’s greatest wars. Multi-award-winning author Tom Holland and acclaimed illustrator Jason Cockcroft boldly weave myth and history in this dramatic tale of Greeks and Gods.
Gripping and powerful, this extraordinary illustrated novel will be treasured by readers young and old. Ideal for fans of Percy Jackson, Neil Gaiman and Kevin Crossley-Holland, and the mythical retellings of Madeline Miller, Pat Barker and Stephen Fry, this is a book to be read again and again.
Review
I love the children’s section at Topping and Company Booksellers in Bath and I always go for an explore when I visit. When I went in the Summer I saw this book and knew I had to have it. I was also over the moon to see it was a signed edition although it was a shame Holland used the pen he chose to use as it bled through on to the next page which marked things quite badly.
This was my first Tom Holland book but Holland’s books have been on my TBR for quite a while. I have always loved the character of Gorgo from Spartan history as she always seems to be a strong woman and most likely another woman from history who had the strength and the brain to be a woman of power and might but sadly restricted due to her sex. At least she made enough impact for Herodotus to mention her and he said she was a wise woman.
Holland does depict Gorgo as a strong child and woman with a fierce heart with a very wise head on her shoulders. Her mother warns her that the Persians are coming and she is the only Spartan to believe it to begin with but she does find a Greek who also believes the same as she does. I like the fact that Holland depicts Gorgo as a trusted young girl and adult who is so trusted that her father the king includes her in the ruling of Sparta. Then her husband who becomes King of Sparta also shows trust in her judgement and counsel.
To be honest the whole wolf thing drove me mad. Yes there is the semi-mythical lawgiver Lycurgus who instituted reforms into Sparta when Sparta was at its weakest but his existence is doubted because his name is strongly associated with Apollo and most people believe Lycurgus is just a personification of Apollo. So I’m not entirely sure why Holland took it as far as he did because I just didn’t think it added to the story. However, I did really like the added element of the Gods taking part in the story.
The most important thing about this book is that Gorgo tells us about the heroics of the 300 Spartans who held the pass against the thousands of Persians for so long. That is the most important tale to be told and it is told well. The illustrations in this book are beautiful and really add to the story. However, I’m afraid the wolf element really let this book down for me so I only give this book 3 out of 5 Dragons.
(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)
About the author
Tom Holland is an award-winning historian, author and broadcaster. He is the author of Rubicon: The Triumph and the Tragedy of the Roman Republic, which won the Hessell-Tiltman Prize for History and was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize; Persian Fire, his history of the Graeco-Persian wars, won the Anglo-Hellenic League’s Runciman Award in 2006. Tom Holland is the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s “Making History” and acclaimed podcast “The Rest is History”. He has written and presented a number of TV documentaries, for the BBC and Channel 4, on subjects ranging from ISIS to dinosaurs. He served two years as the Chair of the Society of Authors and is Chair of the British Library’s PLR Advisory Committee.
Lady Book Dragon 