Le week-end

shown at HW on 11/12/14

Scientist and theologian, protege of Benjamin Franklin

Johnson, Steven. (2008). Invention of air: a story of science, faith, revolution, and the birth of America. New York: Riverhead Books.

1781-1997

Beauty and terror of science

Homes, Robert. (2009). The age of wonder : how the romantic generation discovered the beauty and terror of science. New York: Pantheon Books.

"The Age of Wonder" explores the earliest ideas of deep time and space, and the explorers of "dynamic science": an infinite, mysterious Nature waiting to be discovered. Three lives dominate the book: William Herschel, his sister Caroline, and Humphry Davy.

British spies

Conant, Jennet. (2008). The irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British spy ring in wartime Washington. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Conant tells the story of young writer Roald Dahl who is assigned by His Majesty's Government to Washington, D.C. as a diplomat to gather intelligence about America's isolationist circles. In the course of his "spying," he meets or works closely with David Ogilvy, Ian Fleming, and the great spymaster William Stephenson (aka Intrepid).

Conant has written a series of books of historical interest: I've read her Tuxedo Park, and her most recent work is about Julia and Paul Child, A covert affair.

John Mortimer

He wrote Rumpole, which, the very little I know, is not (dare I say it?) my cup of tea. Yet, when I read Mortimer was a real Communist, and a rabid anti-Thatcherite, well, I had to look closely: a British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author.

archaeological exploration and global political cross-purposes

Unsworth, Barry. (2009). Land of marvels. New York : Nan A. Talese.

Kirkus: Absorbing and irresistible.