Books read and revised Oct 2019

1. Where We Are: The State of Britain Now by Roger Scruton 

An excellent analysis of post Brexit Britain. A textbook case is made for why the referendum went to leave he EU. It's shortcomings are well recorded and the failure of past government to act in the interestes of national sovereignty. Blair acceded unlimited immigration for Eastern Europe seven years before we had to do so. An excellent critique of he Common Agricultural Policy.

2. Revolution: A History of England Volume IV (The History of England) by Peter Ackroyd  (Author)

Excellently recounted history from 1668 to Waterloo. Not merely the important people and events but lots of social history too. Now I want to read the other volumes in the series.

3. The Gentry by Adam Nicolson  (Author)

The gentry are English landowners below the aristocracy. Various families are considered from the Wars of the Roses to modern times. Here are he ups and downs of the rich and powerful - how riches were attained and then often lost. Strangely the one sure way of losing money, gambling, does not figure largely but having to find dowries for daughters does. Also one may give away all the inherited wealth. The author is from and at home with this declining class of people so writes well about them. 

4. The King and the Catholics: The Fight for Rights 1829 by Lady Antonia Fraser (Author)

This is the fourth book by the author I have enjoyed. I had no idea her parents are converts to Rome and her ancestors were Anglo-Irish Protestant ascendancy opponent of Catholic emancipation. This seems to me a very objectively narrated account. I wish today's politicians who change parties had the integrity of Peel who when he changed his views sought a by election. Was this the first time a monarch had given royal assent on the advice of his ministers against his own judgement.

5.If Symptoms Persist by Theodore Dalrymple  (Author)

Spectator articles written between 1991 and 1994 by the wise and erudite prison doctor and hospital psychiatrist. Witty and humorous as he rails against the irresponsibility of his patients and castigates social workers, lawyers and NHS administrators. 

6. A Brief History of the Crusades: Islam and Christianity in the Struggle for World Supremacy (Brief Histories) by Geoffrey Hindley  (Author)

A very emailed history of the crusades. What was new to me was the anti-semitism involved and that any campaign to advance he RC church was a crusade whether in he Baltic region, against Albigensians and also he Spanish Armada and colonisation of South America. The final chapter on the continuing legacy is helpful to see the Muslim perspective.

7. What are We Doing Here? by Marilynne Robinson  (Author)

I have read her novels and a collection of essays. These speeches are not easy reading. A self identified Calvinist but theological and political liberal. She does a great job vindicating the Purians, Cromwell and Edwards.

8.The Guardians by John Grisham

Grisham good as ever. A page turner I read in one day.The Guardians exist to rescue the innocents from 
incarceration after wrong convictions. They prove three witnesses perjured themselves and evidence had
 been planted. A strong Christian flavour here.