Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Night Manager by John Le Carre


An OK read from Le Carre. That said one of his middling efforts is still better that most other writers of the genre. The usually collection of back stabbing, jet setting and governmental double dealing combined with a cast of characters that will seem familiar to a regular reader of his works. All served with Le Carre's usual mastery of language.

Monday, 5 January 2009

The Far-farers: A Journey from Viking Iceland to Crusader Jerusalem by Victoria Clark

The author follows the pilgrimage route of an 11th century Icelander and cover the history of schism between the eastern and western church and the first crusade.

The book is meticulously researched and written in a very engaging fashion. She cleverly juxtaposes events from her modern travels with those of her medieval inspiration.

It is both a history and a travelogue and while more successful as the former does contains many interesting and amusing anecdotes related to her own trip.