In an effort to educate myself, I am reading The Oxford Book of Essays, chosen and edited by John Gross. [copies for sale here] There’s 142 of the blighters, so it will take me all year. To make this “stick” I am going to blog each essay. This essay is online Who was the author:... Continue Reading →
Essays; “A Chambermaid” by Thomas Overbury (6/142) “she hath paid for her credulity often, and now grows weary”
In an effort to educate myself, I am reading The Oxford Book of Essays, chosen and edited by John Gross. [copies for sale here] There’s 142 of the blighters, so it will take me all year. To make this “stick” I am going to blog each essay. This essay is online Who was the author:... Continue Reading →
Sherlock Holmes short story: The Boscombe Valley Mystery – aka colonial boomerang… 4/56
In 2026 I plan to read all the Conan Doyle “Sherlock Holmes” works - 56 short stories and 4 novels (here’s why and how). If you haven’t already read it, Michael Green’s “undiscovered letter” from John Watson is fricking hilarious. I may also read various Holmes homages/pastiches etc. Who knows? (btw I’d recommend the Seven... Continue Reading →
A Short History of the World in 50 lies by Natasha Tidd, part 1: The Ancient World
A Short History of the World in 50 lies by Natasha Tidd. I bought this for two quid in Glossop last September, (and have still not forgiven my best friend from preventing me from entering charity shops - the bastard!). It does what it says on the tin "reveals an alternative perspective on history as... Continue Reading →
New Testament: Mark 12 to 16
Fifteen years ago I read the Old Testament (King James Version) and blogged it as I went. I always meant to keep on trucking, but, well, I didn’t. Now, in January and February of 2026 I am going to read all 27 books of the New Testament (I have a passing familiarity with the Gospels,... Continue Reading →
New Testament: Mark 7 to 11
Fifteen years ago I read the Old Testament (King James Version) and blogged it as I went. I always meant to keep on trucking, but, well, I didn’t. Now, in January and February of 2026 I am going to read all 27 books of the New Testament (I have a passing familiarity with the Gospels,... Continue Reading →
The Gospel According to Mark, by Borges
I am halfway through reading the Gospel According to Mark (I am reading the whole of the New Testament in January and February). It turns out "Mark’s gospel is unique in the fact that it portraits the disciples as ignorant, because they are unable to see Jesus’ true identity (White)." Which I would have missed,... Continue Reading →
Essays: “Of Masques and Triumphs” by Francis Bacon (5/142)
In an effort to educate myself, I am reading The Oxford Book of Essays, chosen and edited by John Gross. [copies for sale here. There’s 142 of the blighters, so it will take me all year. To make this “stick” I am going to blog each essay. This essay is online Who was the author:... Continue Reading →
More about Able Archer (scratchpad)
I listened to a podcast (well, god help me two) about Able Archer. It was not very good (see here). But I persisted, and found what seems to be a pretty good podcast, Cold War Conversations, specifically episodes 19 and 269. They are interviews with Francesca Akhtar, who had done a masters and then PhD... Continue Reading →
“Rules based international order” my very fat arse
I learn a lot from Heather Cox Richardson's astonishing "Letters from an American." It's a brilliant, concise exercise in public education which everyone should be listening to every day. And I totally get why she is painting the Trump regime as unhinged and extreme (because... checks notes... it is). But the constant invocation of the... Continue Reading →
marchudson.net 