Richard Tames

An amazing number of historical facts are crammed into this relatively short book (185 pages), considering the breadth of its subject. The eight overarching chapters are subdivided into short and snappy sections, with an often slightly facetious tone. What I really liked about the book was that the author covers a lot of rather obscure, and therefore very interesting, facts and devotes more than the usual number of pages to the roles of women in history. As always, the subjects often raise show more more questions than they answer, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, as more information can easily be found online. Recommended. show less

A reconstruction of Elizabethan London written in the style of a contemporary guidebook, Shakespeare's London on Five Groats a Day does exactly what it says on the tin. It is fascinating to look at the city as it was in an earlier time, when the Tower of London secured the walls of the City and Westminster remained far outside them, old London Bridge hadn't yet fallen down, and the south bank remained largely rural (with notable exceptions like the Globe Theatre).

Richard Tames' book is full show more of interesting titbits and the guidebook gimmick mostly works. We look, on arrival in the reconstructed city, through the eyes of a foreign traveller (which I suppose we are). We become convinced of the daily life of Tudor England, its grime and routine and its "clatter and chatter in the courtyards" (pg. 34). The flavour of the place emerges, though unfortunately this does not extend to the writing, which is rather dry and hampered by the guidebook structure. Enjoyment of the book is limited by the fact there is no narrative to follow, no opportunity to cut loose one's imagination from our tour guide's path. Nevertheless, under Tames' direction Shakespeare's London shows itself to be a very interesting place to visit for a time. show less

This was a wonderfully thorough book about the life and work of Florence Nightingale. I was astounded by the depth and breadth of her work to revolutionize how the sick and injured were cared for. I did have a bit of a problem where the book characterized "the main aim of British rule in India was to maintain law and order, stop bandits, settle disputes and COLLECT THE TAXES NEEDED TO PAY FOR THE ARMY, POLICE AND OTHER OFFICIALS" (emphasis added). The British aim in India was exploitation show more pure and simple. I could go on, but that was a single page in an otherwise excellent book. There was a bevy of additional resources in the back and a helpful timeline. This would be a great book when discussing the Crimean War, or the development of medical practices. (I also might suggest reading that insert about the British and India before reading a biography of Mahatma Ghandi).
Reading Level: 6.5 Interest Level: 3-6 show less

It was the volume on the Scots engineer Telford that prompted me to tackle this one. (Telford gets a passing mention as does the Baptist entrepreneur Samuel Morton Peto). Lovely sweep through Brunel's life beginning with his French father Marc and through to Isambard's own death, hsi dream house (and the Clifton Suspension Bridge) incomplete. The Great Western Railway and the SS Great Britain seem to have been his crowning achuevements. A flawed character but full of life and ambition show more undoubtedly. show less