Jeremy Seal

I put this out for seasonal decoration because the cover is pretty but started reading it. This is a biography of The development of Saint Nicholas into his non religious incarnation as Santa Claus. The history of the church, the mutations of the saint and the history of the lands influenced by Nicholas were quite interesting. However, I was irritated by the author’s take that Nicholas controlled and developed his posthumous legend. I found that idea irrational and it made my Protestant high horse all out of sorts. Neigh, nay!… (more)

Seal has a thing about Turkey, and in this book he he's decided to follow the entire length of the River Meander for source to mouth in a canoe and on foot. This is a gently winding river is the origin of the word.

He takes a gentle and relaxed approach to the journey down this river valley, taking time to meet the people and characters along the route. It is a place that is rich in history as well, from people such as Alexander the Great to the knights on the crusades.

In parts this book is fascinating, when he is meeting and interacting with the people of the valley. He writes about the the state of the river and the problems that are caused by pollution and extraction of the water, which has brought the river down to a trickle in parts.

There are one or two amusing bits in the book, but i felt that there was too much history in the book, rather than the travel, and for that reason it doesn't sparkle as a good travel book should.… (more)