50books: a quickie

"Great Tales From English History" by Robert Lacey.

soccer_fox borrowed this from [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] and read it very quickly, so I tagged on and borrowed it too. It's a collection of short pieces describing events from English history from eras from prehistory the end of the 14th century. It starts with a description of what is known of Cheddar Man (who lived around 7150 BC) to the Great Rising of 1381 (known, as the author points out, rather erroneously as the Peasants' Revolt). It *is*, as advertised, *English* history. Other inhabitants of Britain appear occasionally as supporting characters, but the English are the central feature.

The 43 chapters are short and very readable. Each usually focuses on a person, though a few are more focused on events. The annotated bibliography provides excellent listings of general histories, plus a number of primary and secondary sources and recommended further reading for each chapter.

The style is chatty and easygoing. The author gently explodes some of the popular myths commonly passed about, while explaining how many of them came about or how and why they survived as indicators of what later generations *wanted* to believe about the past.

There's a second volume, released in 2005, subtitled "Chaucer to the Glorious Revolution"; if it's as entertaining and well written as this one, it's also worth reading!

nice afternoon

I ran two lines this morning, ARing a match at 8 and another at 9.45, and managed to come away without anyone extremely pissed off at me. It was exhausting and satisfying and really almost fun. :-)

I was feeling a bit blue on the way home, but I chatted with my neighbours about their cats, who I will be looking after next week, and about a squirrel who has figured out how to unlatch their canister of bird food on the porch (!) Then I did something I haven't done in far too long--I took a shower and then a long hot bath with a book. I stopped reading after a while and just enjoyed the hot water. But I got out when I started feeling sleepy, put on some warm clothes, and I'm going to have some lunch, maybe a nap if I can, like a cat, find a sunny spot. Later I need to do laundry, prep some miniatures for painting. DC United are playing for their chance to go to the playoffs. NJS and Bryan will be over later to pick up some stuff; I may go watch the game she's reffing (her first center, I think, in CCSL!) and her teams's game, then come home and have an early night.

I'm feeling pretty weary these days. Sadness threatens from time to time, and loneliness, but they're mostly keeping at bay what with the opportunities to do things with friends, books to read, videos to watch, Rupert to ride... mostly I just end up being tired. Need to sleep more and get more exercise!

Right now, though lunch beckons, and a beautiful sunny day!