NON-FICTION REVIEWS
erroneously between serious psychoanalytical thought and self-help manual, it serves the non-Holmes aficionado as a route into the stories without any spoilers. And for those of us who have enjoyed the intellectual might of the great detective before, it gives us a fresh insight into Conan Doyle’s deductive masterpieces.
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Fanny and Stella by Neil McKenna Faber HB/EB Out February The trial of Ernest Boulton and Frederick Park was a Victorian sensation.
Arrested dressed as women, they were charged with sodomy and affronts to public decency. This is the seedy side of Victorian London, home to prostitutes, rent boys and drag balls, where blind eyes were turned because it was emotionally (or financially) convenient to do so. Based on trial records, witness statements and newspaper reports, this history is full of puns, innuendo and facts. Though it fails to address some of the wider issues of transgender identity, it’s a great read. SH
Recycled Chic by Amanda McKittrick Murdoch PB/EB Out February Recycled Chic is perfect for people interested in producing
fashionable new designs out of vintage clothing. Suitable for all sewing abilities, it will appeal particularly to anyone on a budget or keen to
recycle. This comprehensive book has clear, easy to follow instructions. Basic tips and techniques are covered in depth, the glossary is very helpful and there is information on what is needed for a basic sewing kit, along with a useful section on caring for all fabric types. There are lots of inventive ideas for making dresses, skirts, tops and accessories: my particular favourite is a funky cape. SD
The Diaries of a Fleet Street Fox by Lilly Miles Constable PB/EB Out February When a tabloid reporter doorsteps her husband with his mistress, the resulting
fracas sees her spend a night in prison. Shocked and humiliated, she battles to hold herself together. Chronicling every detail in her diary, her observations on life, relationships and the newspaper industry make raw, entertaining reading. The angsty personal content can be uncomfortable, but it is a compelling account of an experience which is all too familiar, and a fascinating insight into an industry struggling to retain its integrity.
Handsome Brute by Sean O’Connor S&S HB/EB Out February In 1946, the murders of two young women by Neville Heath caused a tabloid
sensation. Handsome and 55
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charming, the RAF pilot’s sadistic killings sent a shockwave through post-war England. This biography reveals Heath’s troubled decline into insanity via a series of misfortunes; it does so while being refreshingly devoid of unnecessary artistic embellishment. By weaving intricate detail and research into a thorough account of the environments and experiences which were the backdrop to the gruesome deaths, Sean O’Connor lets a real sense of Heath’s character emerge. A fine read, and a thoughtful investigation into the effects of war, sex and class on human behaviour.
Shackleton’s Whisky by Neville Peat Preface HB/EB Out February This quirky book throws new light on a well-known subject. We learn about
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explorer Ernest Shackleton, his crew, the ramshackle hut at frozen Cape Royds (where they spent two long years between 1907 and 1909), the 25 crates of scotch whisky they took with them to Antarctica (as you do), and the New Zealand scientists who found the stash hidden beneath the hut 100 years later. It’s an odd tale, but a strangely endearing one, and Neville Peat writes beautifully. With clear prose, thoughtful research and superb photographs this book – like the whisky – is a real treat. Just don’t wait 100 years to try it.
BLOGGER’S CHOICES
Rhubarbaria: Recipes for Rhubarb by Mary Prior Prospect Books PB Out now Full of recipes, history, folklore and personality;
I’ve cooked from it, added cuttings to it, and I wouldn’t be without it – I think every cook needs it.
SG
Island Years, Island Farm by Frank Fraser Darling Little Toller Press PB Out now A real Swiss Family Robinson story, the Fraser
Darlings spent the 1930s on remote Scottish islands: the grown-up reality of an Enid Blyton fantasy. It’s compelling.
Sightlines by Kathleen Jamie Sort Of Books PB/EB Out now
A quiet and thoughtful book about landscapes that aren’t quite
everyday. Whether staring through a microscope or through binoculars, this nature writer (and Costa Award- winning poet) took me with her on her journey of exploration.
Hayley Anderton blogs at thedesperatereader.blogspot.
co.uk
WC
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