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{{Frontpage| styleisbn="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"1789016304|==title=[[War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam by |author=Melanie Martin]]|rating=5|genre==Biography[[image:5star.jpg|linksummary=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:History|History]], [[:Category:Biography|Biography]] Melanie Martin Melanie Martin read about what happened to Dutch Jews in occupied Amsterdam during World War II and was entranced by what she discovered, particularly in ''The Diary of Ann Frank'' but then realised that her own family's stories were equally fascinating. A hundred and seven thousand Jews were deported from the city during the war years, but only five thousand survived and Martin could not understand how this could be allowed to happen in a country with liberal values who were resistant to German occupation. Most people believed that the occupation could never happen: even those who thought that the Germans might reach the city were convinced that they would soon be pushed back, that the Amsterdammers would never allow what happened to escalate in the way that it did, but initial protests melted away as the organisers became more circumspect. It's an atrocity on a vast scale but made up of tens of thousands of individual tragedies. [[War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam by Melanie Martin|Full Review]] <!-- Nayeri -->}}{{Frontpage|-isbn=1786893452| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"The Ungrateful Refugee|author=Dina Nayeri[[image:1786893452.jpg|linkrating=http://www4.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786893452/ref5|genre=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Biography| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri]]=== [[image:4Here in the West, we see news reports about immigrants on a regular basis – some media welcoming them, some scaremongering about them.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Politics But all of those stories are written by journalists – almost always western, and Society|Politics and Society]]almost always, [[:Category:Biography|Biography]] Here in no matter how deep the Westinvestigative journalism they carry out, outsiders to the world and the situations that refugees find themselves in. It's rare that we see news reports about immigrants on find out the journeys from the refugees themselves – and this is a regular basis – some media welcoming themrare opportunity to do that, some scaremongering about them. But all of those stories are written by journalists – almost always westernin this intelligent, powerful and almost always, no matter how deep moving work by Dina Nayeri -someone who was born in the investigative journalism they carry outmiddle of a revolution in Iran, outsiders fleeing to the world and the situations that refugees find themselves inAmerica as a ten-year-old. It's rare that we find out }}{{Frontpage|isbn=0857058320|title=Lord Of All the journeys from the refugees themselves – Dead|author=Javier Cercas and this is a rare opportunity Anne McLean (translator)|rating=4|genre=Biography|summary=''Lord Of All the Dead'' is a journey to do that, in this intelligent, powerful uncover the author's lost ancestor's life and moving work by Dina Nayeri -someone who was born death. Cercas is searching for the meaning behind his great uncle's death in the middle of a revolution in IranSpanish Civil War. Manuel Mena, fleeing to America as a ten-year-oldCercas' great uncle, is the figure who looms large over the book. He died relatively young whilst fighting for Francisco Franco's forces.[[The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri|Full Review]] <!-- Cercas -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:0857058320ruminates on why his uncle fought for this dictator. The question at the centre of this book is whether it is possible for his great uncle to be a hero whilst having fought for the wrong side.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0857058320/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]}}{{Frontpage| styleisbn="vertical-align: top; text1788037812|title=The Fraternity of the Estranged: The Fight for Homosexual Rights in England, 1891-align: left;"1908|author=Brian Anderson|rating=5|genre==[[Lord Of All the Dead by Javier Cercas and Anne McLean (translator)]]===Biography [[image:4star.jpg|linksummary=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:History|History]]Originally passed in 1885, [[:Category:Biography|Biography]] ''Lord Of All the Dead'' is law that had made homosexual relations a journey to uncover the author's lost ancestor's life and deathcrime remained in place for 82 years. Cercas is searching for the meaning behind his great uncle's death in the Spanish Civil War. Manuel MenaBut during this time, Cercas' great unclerestrictions on same-sex relationships did not go unchallenged. Between 1891 and 1908, is three books on the figure who looms large over the booknature of homosexuality appeared. He died relatively young whilst fighting for Francisco Franco's forcesThey were written by two homosexual men: Edward Carpenter and John Addington Symonds, as well as the heterosexual Havelock Ellis. Cercas ruminates Exploring the margins of society and studying homosexuality was common on why his uncle fought for this dictator. The question at the centre of this book is whether it is possible for his great uncle to be a hero whilst having fought for European Continent, but barely talked about in the UK, so the wrong side. [[Lord Of All publications of these men were hugely significant – contributing to the Dead by Javier Cercas scientific understanding of homosexuality, and Anne McLean (translator)|Full Review]]beginning the struggle for recognition and equality, leading to the milestone legalisation of same-sex relationships in 1967.}}<!-- Anderson -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=Buckland_Zoo| styletitle="widthThe Man Who Ate the Zoo: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|Frank Buckland, forgotten hero of natural history[[image:1788037812.jpg|linkauthor=http://www.amazonRichard Girling|rating=4.co.uk/dp/1788037812/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] 5| stylegenre="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Biography|summary===[[The Fraternity of As a conservationist in Victorian England before the Estranged: The Fight for Homosexual Rights in Englandterm existed, 1891-1908 by Brian Anderson]]=== [[image:5starFrank Buckland was very much a man ahead of his time.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:History|History]]Surgeon, [[:Category:Reference|Reference]]naturalist, [[:Category:Biography|Biography]]veterinarian and eccentric sums him up perfectly, and any biographer is immediately presented with a colourful tale to tell.}}Originally passed in 1885{{Frontpage|isbn=Williams_Captain|title=Captain Ronald Campbell of Bombala Station, Cambalong: His Military Life and Times|author=Ivor George Williams|rating=4|genre=Biography|summary=In March 1829 Ann Parker married Captain J A Edwards of the law that had made homosexual relations a crime remained in place for 82 years. But during this time, restrictions on same-sex relationships did not go unchallenged. Between 1891 and 1908, three books on the nature 17th Regiment of homosexuality appearedFoot. They were written by two homosexual men: Edward Carpenter He was in command of the troops and convicts on board a ship sailing from Plymouth to Sydney, Australia: his wife and John Addington Symonds, as well as the heterosexual Havelock Ellisyoung son accompanied him. Exploring He was not destined to live a long life, dying suddenly at the margins age of society and studying homosexuality was common on the European Continent34 at Bangalore, but barely talked about leaving his widow to raise their two young sons. Edwards' death left his widow in the UK, so the publications of these men were hugely significant – contributing a difficult position: not only did she have their farm to the scientific understanding of homosexualitymanage, and beginning but she was also responsible for the struggle for recognition and equality, leading to convicts who worked the milestone legalisation of same-sex relationships in 1967land. [[The Fraternity of the Estranged: Two years later she would marry Captain Ronald Campbell.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Peacock_mountain|title=Into The Fight for Homosexual Rights in EnglandMountain, 1891-1908 by Brian AndersonA Life of Nan Shepherd|Full Review]]author=Charlotte Peacock|rating=4.5<!-- Buckland -->|-| style|genre="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|Biography[[image:Buckland_Zoo.jpg|left|linksummary=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1784701610?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1784701610]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Man Who Ate Mostly we choose what books to read because there is so little time and so many books… I can understand the Zoo: Frank Bucklandapproach, forgotten hero of natural history but I also think we sell ourselves short by Richard Girling]]=== [[image:4it, and we sell the myriad lesser-known authors short as well.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Biography|Biography]] As a conservationist in Victorian England before the term existedSo while, Frank Buckland was very much a man ahead of his time. Surgeonlike most other people I have my favourite genres, naturalistand favoured authors, veterinarian and eccentric sums him while, like most other people I read the reviews and follow up perfectlyon what appeals, and any biographer is immediately presented with I also have a colourful tale third-string to tellmy reading bow: randomness. [[The Man Who Ate the Zoo: Frank Buckland, forgotten hero of natural history by Richard Girling|Full Review]]}}<!-- Williams -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=Hewitt_Renoir| styletitle="widthRenoir's Dancer: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|The Secret Life of Suzanne Valadon[[image:Williams_Captain.jpg|leftauthor=Catherine Hewitt|linkrating=https://www4.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1546280804?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1546280804]] 5| stylegenre="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Art|summary===[[Captain Ronald Campbell Deep in the rural parts of Bombala StationFrance in the 1860s, Cambalong: His Military Life and Times by Ivor George Williams]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Biography|Biography]] In March 1829 Ann Parker married Captain J A Edwards of the 17th Regiment you would never really expect to find someone who would come to embody a full artistic period – and not just a movement at that, but a full generation of both creative and societal change. And if you were to expect that someone, they would like as not be male. But almost stumbling into the hedonistic culture of FootMontmartre came Marie-Clementine Valadon. He was She started in command of the troops and convicts on board a ship sailing from Plymouth to Sydneycircus that first caught her teenaged eye, Australia: his wife and young son accompanied himalthough her gymnastic career was short-lived. He But what she did have from that was not destined the poise to live be an appealing model for some seriously important painters and a long life, dying suddenly at the age of 34 at Bangalore, leaving his widow natural beauty and figure to appeal to raise both them and their two young sonsaudiences. Edwards' death left his widow in a difficult position: not only did she have their farm And what she also had, much to manage, but she was also responsible for the convicts who worked surprise of many and the land. Two years later she would marry Captain Ronald Campbell. [[Captain Ronald Campbell distaste of Bombala Stationsome, Cambalong: His Military Life and Times by Ivor George Williams|Full Review]]was artistic talent of her own…}}<!-- Seward -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=Ravilious_James| styletitle="widthJames Ravilious: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"A Life|author=Robin Ravilious[[image:Peacock_mountain.jpg|left|linkrating=https://www4.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1903385563?ie5|genre=UTF8&tagBiography|summary=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1903385563]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Into The MountainThe name of Eric Ravilious, A Life of Nan Shepherd by Charlotte Peacock]]=== [[image:4war artist, engraver and designer, has long been familiar.5star.jpg|link=Category:Less well-known was his equally gifted son James. This delightful biography by his widow should help to put the situation right.}}{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:BiographyFrontpage|isbn=Thomas_Pearl|Biography]],[[title=The King's Pearl:Category:HistoryHenry VIII and His Daughter Mary|History]] Mostly we choose what books to read because there is so little time and so many books… I can understand author=Melita Thomas|rating=5|genre=Biography|summary=As the eldest surviving child of a much-married father whose main aim was to secure the approachroyal succession with sons, but I also think we sell ourselves short by itMary Tudor's relationship with Henry VIII, and we sell who called her his 'pearl of the myriad lesser-known authors short as well. So while, like most other people I have my favourite genres, and favoured authors, and while, like most other people I read the reviews and follow up on what appeals, I also have a third string to my reading bow: randomness. [[Into The Mountain, A Life of Nan Shepherd by Charlotte Peacock|Full Review]] <!-- Hewitt -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Hewitt_Renoir.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785782738?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785782738]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Renoir's Dancer: The Secret Life of Suzanne Valadon by Catherine Hewitt]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Biography|Biography]], [[:Category:Art|Art]] Deep in the rural parts of France in the 1860s, you would never really expect to find someone who would come to embody a full artistic period – and not just a movement at that, but a full generation of both creative and societal change. And if you were to expect that someone, they would like as not be male. But almost stumbling into the hedonistic culture of Montmartre came Marie-Clementine Valadon. She started in the circus that first caught her teenaged eye, although her gymnastic career was short-lived. But what she did have from that was the poise to be an appealing model for some seriously important painters, and a natural beauty and figure to appeal to both them and their audiences. And what she also had, much to the surprise of many and the distaste of some, was artistic talent of her own… [[Renoir's Dancer: The Secret Life of Suzanne Valadon by Catherine Hewitt|Full Review]] <!-- Ravilious -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Ravilious_James.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1908524944?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1908524944]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[James Ravilious: A Life by Robin Ravilious]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Biography|Biography]] The name of Eric Ravilious, war artist, engraver and designer, has long been familiar. Less well-known was his equally gifted son James. This delightful biography by his widow should help to put the situation right. [[James Ravilious: A Life by Robin Ravilious|Full Review]] <!-- Thomas -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Thomas_Pearl.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/144566125X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=144566125X]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and His Daughter Mary by Melita Thomas]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Biography|Biography]] As the eldest surviving child of a much-married father whose main aim was to secure the royal succession with sons, Mary Tudor's relationship with Henry VIII, who called her his 'pearl of the world'world', was inevitably an important and often fraught one.[[The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and His Daughter Mary by Melita Thomas|Full Review]] <!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->|}}