I’ve hardly had a chance to think about Christmas, but, as you can see from my new photo gallery at the top of my site, I’m beginning to get 
into the festive mood.
I’ve compiled a list of books for my Christmas wish list, biographies are always a favourite as fact is stranger than fiction and I’m always fascinated by people’s lives, so here goes:
- Sovereign Ladies: The Six Reigning Queens of England, by Maureen Waller
- The Life Of Kingsley Amis, by Zachary Leader
- The Letters of Jessica Mitford, edited by Peter Sussman
- Thomas Hardy – the Time-Torn Man, by Claire Tomalin
- The Duff Cooper Diaries, by John Julius Norwich
- Boris, by Andrew Gimson
- Heroes and Contemporaries, Jonathan Aitken
And a special one for the coffee table, The English Garden, by Ursula Buchan.
Reading more books was my only New Year resolution that I didn’t stick to this year, blogging was the main reason for that. Hopefully, this bundle of books will be too impossible to resist.
So what’s on your book list this Christmas? Do you have any recommendations that I might like?
P.S. I’ve just starting playing festive songs on my clarinet too, but have never been able to find the music for ‘In The Bleak Mid Winter’, if anyone has it, I would be very grateful if you could please send me a photocopy.
I love biographies too. I’m also after the Thomas Hardy one, and the Jessica Mitford would be welcome! I went through a huge biography phase earlier in the year and read a brilliant Diana Mosley one (can’t recall exact title). There’s a good Ted Hughes biog. around too, but that’s been around for quite a while so you’ve probably come across it. Oh, and am reading Virginia Woolf: An Inner Life – that’s brilliant and fairly new. I’ve read so many VW biogs, and Inner Life is one of the best I’ve come across.
In Pursuit of Victory by Roger Knight, a biography of the great East Anglian, Lord Horatio Nelson.
Nimue, I haven’t read the Ted Hughes biog, though I do have Hughes’ birthday letters, as well as Sylvia Plath’s journals and A Lover of Unreason, the book about Assia Wevill. I once met Ted Hughes in Cambridge, saw him give a poetry recital, and found the film Sylvia so tragic. He is a man that will always fascinate.
Cirtyunslicker, Lord Nelson is my hero, as you know, and will be the subject of my next Toastmaster speech. I haven’t read this biog, though I usually buy books about Nelson when I stay in Burnham Market during my annual summer hols. I get so carried away about him then and visit all his local haunts and devour what informaiton I can.
I have two bookshelves of books you might like. But, I cannot recommend one for Xmas. However, you might like reading from John Reid’s blog. Here is the link http://reidmylips.wordpress.com
I’m definitely interested in the Assia Wevill. Do check out Ted Hughes, it’s realy very good. Oh, and isn’t there a new Leonard Woolf book out? Pretty sure it’s by the same woman who wrote the Vita SW, but name escapes me. Victoria something…
Clarinet, writing in Russian and reading. when do you sleep, Ellee? I like the female monarchs book and in particular, I have a considerable amount on Lady Jane and Anne Boleyn [realize she’s not a queen in her own right]. The women on the throne are always interesting. Perhaps you could try Queen Margot and something on Ekaterina II.
A Present for Christmas…
I thought about baking you a cake
Or some panettone bread
But they wouldn’t go down the telephone line
So I got you this instead…
http://www.gbod.org/worship/music/221bleakmidwinter.pdf
There is a fantastic book out about the Paston Family in Norfolk in the 14th Century- its called Blood and Roses and is by Helen Castor- its an amazing collective biography- really interesting about medieval England in that period but it came out last year so you might already know it.
I’ve just read a very sad biography- have you heard of The Living Unknown Soldier by Jean Yves La Naour its about a soldier who lost his memory in the first world war- its a fantastic evocation of what the war meant to France and its a very sad tale. I reviewed it myself here and its definitely worth a read if you haven’t come across it.
Jailhouselawyer, when I have finished reading all my books, I may return to John Reid’s blog,thanks for the link.
Nimue, I think you will enjoy A Lover of Unreason, a brilliant title, though ‘enjoy’ isn’t an appropriate word for such a tragic story. I will certainly check out the Ted Hughes book.
James, I love playing the clarinet, but am still learning, I started from scratch about three years ago and aspire to play the Adagio from Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, I’m not quite there yet.
And James, what about brave Queen Boudicea, who ruled East Angia, as well as Helen of Troy, I have the Bettany Hughes biog to read which I bought when I met this year.
Tim, I have just returned from a very bleak mid-winter walk across the fens with my neighbour and her dogs and found your wonderful link. I immediately printed it off and played it, may thanks. The music is very easy and I always find it very moving. I tried ordering it on the internet last Christmas, but could only find it in music books that had to be ordered from overseas, I never thought of trying again, but then I doubt I would have come across just the sheet. Many thanks, what a lovely present, and much appreicated.
Gracchi, your recommendations sound fascinating, I shall check it out. I shall refer back to this post throughout the year when I need reminding about good titles to read.
I’ve been reading what some people have been commenting. Anne Boleyn is a favourite of mine as well. I shall be getting ‘The Boleyn Inheritance’ by Philippa Gregory at Christmas. I am currently reading ‘Innocent Traitor’ by Alison Weir. It’s the first novel by this biographer, and is about Lady Jane Grey.
I have enjoyed a lot of Virginia Woolf novels in recent months as well.
I love biographies, too. The best I’ve read in the past year is Kathryn Hughes'”The Short Life and Long Times of Mrs Beeton”. When I was over in Britain in October I bought Paul Rusesabagina’s “An Ordinary Man”: he’s the main character in “Hotel Rwanda” and it’s a wonderful book; he is scathing about how the world stood by and the uselessness of the UN during the killings. I also bought Charles [nearly wrote James!] Higham’s updated biog of Mrs Simpson: the extreme right-wing links that woman had are mind-boggling, according to this. At the moment I’m reading Barry Unsworth’s novel “The Ruby in her Navel” [set in 12th century Sicily] and I’ve got a novel about Olympe de Gouges in Italian on the go, too. [I’m always reading a hardback in the house and have a paperback on the go to take out with me, as I have a terrible fear of being stuck somewhere without reading matter!] So I bought my Xmas books a bit early, really.
Welshcakes, I haven’t read Mrs Beeton, but heard about her honeymone syphillis and met the writer in Cambridge at our literary festival this year. Hotel Rwanda was a very harrowing film, it’s unebelieveable how the world closed its eyes on the genocide and atrocities there. You have mentioned a couple of titles that are new to me, I hope you enjoy them.
Festive songs on the clarinet, how utterly enchanting!
Still thinking on my Christmas book list. 🙂
Welshcakes, Just spotted a typo with my spelling of honeymooon!
Bel, My son accompanies me on his trumpet, not the best musical partnership, it gives us lots of laughs though.
A google alert led me here. Thanks for including my book of Jessica Mitford’s letters on your Christmas list. For the record, the book’s full title is DECCA: THE LETTERS OF JESSICA MITFORD.
I cannot recommend much as I don’t read a lot. (isn’t that a terrible confession?!)…
But I may have the music you want ( will have a look).
Anyway.. Merry Christmas!
Have you read “Suite Francaise” I have it on my Christmas list (But no-one’s asked for it yet – sob ) I have heard it is excellent. An old one, and a novel but , for me, very attractive is The Cairo Trilogy.
Ellie – What no PR academic texts on your Christmas book list????????
Have just finished Helen of Troy, was very good. Perfect historical biography for non academic plebs like me.
I’m afraid my tastes are much simpler – if anyone gets me the new Jilly Cooper I’ll be a happy bunny.
I went down to my local bookmaker but he did not have any books in stock. All that was available was betting slips!
Peter Sussman, What an unexpected pleasure to hear from you, I do hope I’m lucky with my wish list. If not, I will make sure to go out and buy the Jessica Mitford letters myself.
Jane, Thank you for your recommendation too, that’s a new one for me.
Heather, I couldn’t wait till Xmas for my PR books as the exam is set tomorrow! So Santa’s little helper came early.
Louise, Glad to hear Helen of Troy was good, as I would expect, I hope you are lucky with Jilly Cooper’s latest.
Santa came early and a copy of Boris arrived in the post today, it was an unexpected surprise too.
And Jane, I read a fantastic review of Suite Francaise in the Sunday Times last weekend, it’s going to be added to my list now too.
[…] What’s on your Christmas book list? By Ellee I am not making a Christmas book list this year as I still haven’t got round to reading so many books that I bought this year. […]
I hope Hollywood won’t turn this guy into a loser like it did to Nick. Is this his 2nd or 3rd marriage? Whoever thought those two (Nick and Jessica) would ever get divorced? Fame is a home-wrecker and I hope the newly engaged will decide their future marriage is more important than looking good in tabloid material.