Reading terrific historical non-fiction is a keen interest of mine. As a young girl, I would wake up early on weekends to grab a volume of the encyclopedia and get busy browsing. Afterwards, my Hot Wheels would come out, I really wasn't a lover of dolls. Then to round things off I was the only eight year-old I knew that carried around a ball of yarn and knitting needles. But I turned out to be normal enough, really I did! A couple of weeks ago, while listening to a podcast on The Woman's Hour, I heard Tracy Borman talk about her latest book. Elizabeth's Women: The Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen is the story of Elizabeth I and her relationships with the women in her life, rather than of the men. I look forward to learning more about her life with governesses, female relatives and her ladies-in-waiting, Elizabeth was famously known for her jealousy of certain women at court. It couldn't have been an easy life for a complex woman given the social mores, the expectations of her gender and that she was a female monarch surrounded by male advisers. Jonathan Cape was kind enough to send me a copy, upon my request, to review on my blog. I must check my supply of Post-It notes, this is serious stuff not to be taken lightly! Behind Closed Doors: At Home in Georgian England is another non-fiction title which intrigued me straight away upon hearing about it. Author, Amanda Vickery, comes with an impressive CV but writes in an extremely readable manner, no dry reading to be found here. Chapters include topics such as Men Alone, Thresholds and Boundries at Home, Setting up Home, His and Hers and Wallpaper and Taste. History books that delve into people's daily lives and thoughts interest me to no end. The products they used to deodorize themselves, how they prevented pregnancies and their superstitions are fascinating to me, I'll leave the politics of the day to someone else. Reviews on both of these books will be forthcoming. Kristina and I are reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie together and I haven't cracked the cover yet so patience on my part will be required.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Non-Fiction Feast
Reading terrific historical non-fiction is a keen interest of mine. As a young girl, I would wake up early on weekends to grab a volume of the encyclopedia and get busy browsing. Afterwards, my Hot Wheels would come out, I really wasn't a lover of dolls. Then to round things off I was the only eight year-old I knew that carried around a ball of yarn and knitting needles. But I turned out to be normal enough, really I did! A couple of weeks ago, while listening to a podcast on The Woman's Hour, I heard Tracy Borman talk about her latest book. Elizabeth's Women: The Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen is the story of Elizabeth I and her relationships with the women in her life, rather than of the men. I look forward to learning more about her life with governesses, female relatives and her ladies-in-waiting, Elizabeth was famously known for her jealousy of certain women at court. It couldn't have been an easy life for a complex woman given the social mores, the expectations of her gender and that she was a female monarch surrounded by male advisers. Jonathan Cape was kind enough to send me a copy, upon my request, to review on my blog. I must check my supply of Post-It notes, this is serious stuff not to be taken lightly! Behind Closed Doors: At Home in Georgian England is another non-fiction title which intrigued me straight away upon hearing about it. Author, Amanda Vickery, comes with an impressive CV but writes in an extremely readable manner, no dry reading to be found here. Chapters include topics such as Men Alone, Thresholds and Boundries at Home, Setting up Home, His and Hers and Wallpaper and Taste. History books that delve into people's daily lives and thoughts interest me to no end. The products they used to deodorize themselves, how they prevented pregnancies and their superstitions are fascinating to me, I'll leave the politics of the day to someone else. Reviews on both of these books will be forthcoming. Kristina and I are reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie together and I haven't cracked the cover yet so patience on my part will be required.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I was a history major and had no problem with the reading, but these days, it takes a lot to get me to read non-fiction. I start off interested but kind of lose steam part of the way through. Maybe I am just not choosing the right non-fiction.
ReplyDeleteThomas, Funny you say that as I have a few non-fiction books that have bookmarks holding my place about the half-way mark. Sometimes, if it's too much of the same thing, I think 'okay, enough of that' and go on to something else. Alison Weir is a favourite non-fiction writer as she writes history in such a riveting manner. I'm hoping that Tracy Borman and Amanda Vickery will be new favourites.
ReplyDeleteHehe - I love the image produced by the first paragraph. I always used to sit reading our encyclopaedia by the radiator - absolutely fascinating. Not sure what happened to it when my parents split up :(
ReplyDeleteverity, Awww...a girl after my own heart! I'm afraid the landfills are full of encyclopaedia or used to decorate large shelving units in restaurants since the invention of the internet.
ReplyDeleteThey sound so fascinating! I love non fiction but I do have to be in the right mood. I look forward to your reviews, especially the Georgian one...how fun to know about interior design!
ReplyDeleteRachel, I'm definitely in the mood for these books. They'll tide me over until the new Persephone titles arrive.
ReplyDeleteBoth titles sound great and I am noting them and hoping I can find library copies! I'll be watching for your review, too. I've heard of Amanda Vickery and think my library has an older book by her, but I like the sound of this one. Have fun reading. I'm like Thomas--I love NF but I tend to go at it really slowly. I usually limit myself to one at a time, but I have three on the go now (though you already know I'm having problems with books at the moment--LOL). They're all good, I just need more reading time!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth's Women sounds amazing and I'm looking forward to hearing your review when you're through. That period of history is fascinating, and I've long wondered about the relationships between the various women in power, connected as they were by blood and an understanding of their role as political pawns. But I've never thought about it from the perspective of her ladies-in-waiting, and I'm curious to hear what you find out.
ReplyDeleteI'm also curious to know how you like Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I felt rather disappointed by it, particularly as it seemed so promising!