Tuesday, 6 February 2024

The Slightly Foxed Literary Review

 I knew I'd enjoy the 4 Slightly Foxed Literary Review publications that I found in a charity shop at the end of January because books about books are always good. 

 


I started with the Summer 2022 edition


These are the books and authors that are written about in this issue




I found that I owned 2 of the books written about in the summer 2022 issue as well as Pevsner's Suffolk (it's Pevsner biography from 2011 that's reviewed here)


I've written about Copsford HERE back in 2019 when I discovered there was a new edition. What I found interesting in the review in Slightly Foxed was that the writer, Grant Mcintyre had known Walter Murray much later in his life long after he moved away from the almost derelict home where he gathered and dried herbs to sell. Murray married his 'music teacher' and went on to start and run a small private school for 40 years until 1963, which Grant attended. Miki at Farms On My bookshelf has a post about him HERE and I discovered The Green Man of Horam by Tom Wareham is a biography of Murray. I suggested the library buy a copy - but had an email straight back to say they won't be buying.

That leaves Arthur Ransome's  We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea (I've got most of his books - son read them all and I kept them despite all the moves) which I'm not sure I ever read when I read some of the other Swallows and Amazons books. I have read it now and reminded myself just how much detail there is about sailing in his books and how much I loved them and enjoyed visiting the museums in the Lake District that tell the story of Ransome and his books and boats.

Back Tomorrow
Sue




28 comments:

  1. Flora Thompson and the Candleford books mention brought back memories of a good television series.

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    1. It was really good wasn't it. It also brought back memories to me of my hubby picking up loads of horse manure from the little hamlet that it was all based on, Juniper Hill in Oxfordshire where Flora Thompson was born. The cottages there were gorgeous.

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    2. I read the books many many years ago but didn't watch the TV series as I'm not at all fond of costume drama and Colin definitely didn't like things like that

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  2. I have a copy of The Green Man of Horam that I coud send if I had your address.

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    1. Thank you but can't send my address out anywhere now

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  3. It’s always a pleasure to read your book reviews and the magazines were a great find. PS £3.80 returned to my card from Waitrose yesterday for the rotten peppers. Catriona

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  4. It's always satisfying to come across a familiar book being recommended in a journal.

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    1. I like reading that other people like the books I've read

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  5. I read Swallows and Amazons when at school. Larkrise and Candleford and other of Flora Thomsons' works still on my shelves, as is Copsford, which I just HAD to buy after hearing about it (probably from you). Keith has The Great Game and wouldn't part with it.

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  6. I bought a copy of Copsford from a charity book stall recently. I had never heard of it before, but I really enjoyed it. My daughter read it after me and she loved it too.

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  7. All sound very interesting I must look those books up, thank you Sue.

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  8. For me the danger of books about books is that they make me want to buy more books ... I shall have to resist. :-)

    I lent my copy of Copsford to a family member before I had even read it ... it has now emigrated to Spain. I think I'll treat myself to a new one. :-(

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    1. Very annoying when books go walkabout. |I rarely lend mine!

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  9. I always enjoyed the Swallows and Amazon books. They were in the school library and I’d read them if we got library time. I loved the covers of the books too. Jean in Winnipeg.

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    1. It was good to read one again after many many years

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  10. I have a copy of Swallows and Amazons on the bookshelf that I've never read, so that's now next on my list. Also your post has reminded me about Candleford - I must get myself a copy of that, used to have one but no idea what happened to it!
    Alison in Wales x

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    1. Have you seen the two swallows and amazons films. The older one is the best

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    2. I've only seen the older one, a lovely film x
      Alison x

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  11. Don't libraries in the UK do inter-library loans anymore? It should be held somewhere.

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  12. You have such a lovely lot of wonderful old, interesting books. I loved the Swallows and Amazons books. I think there is a trail of some sort at Shotley or I seem to remember picking up a pamphlet about it.

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  13. The Slightly Foxed publications are taking you down many lovely enjoyable paths. They were a very lucky charity shop find.

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  14. It seems that the reviews in the Slightly Foxed are bringing back some lovely memories.

    God bless.

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  15. I was a great fan of Arthur Ransome, and still have the full Swallows and Amazon's set of 12, and frequently dip in and re-read them. I was not so keen on Peter Duck or Missee Lee, as they didn't really seem to fit in with the others.

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  16. You should start your own library for locals...?!

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