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Re: [OM] Earsling (Was Scottish weather)

Subject: Re: [OM] Earsling (Was Scottish weather)
From: Bob Whitmire <fujixbob@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:31:16 -0500
We get BBC America, which carried the series, but I got only through six of the 
episodes while it was available for streaming. Then it vanished. I assume it 
will be back. 

There's another similarity between Cornwell and me: our wives. My wife very 
much dislikes battle scenes, and dismisses my arguments that while sometimes 
they are gratuitous, at other times they are integral to an understanding of 
the characters and the period. Which is to say, I only can watch such programs 
when she isn't around. Since her retirement, that isn't often. <g>

I recommend the Sharpe books, particularly the original set, Rifles through 
Waterloo. The later books are good, sometimes as good, but if the number of 
Cornwells is overwhelming, go with the originals. The Saxon stories also are 
quite good, and put together a convincing narrative of how England came to be 
England. Apparently, the issue was in doubt for some time, and the fact that 
England is England is why Alfred is the only king with the Great following his 
name.  I thought the actor who plays Alfred in the tv series was particularly 
good. 

Cornwell ultimately is responsible for a sizable personal collection of actual 
histories, because after I started reading the Sharpe series many years ago, I 
developed a desire to see how his stories stacked up against history. He's done 
a fair job, and where he's moved this or that, he says so in historical notes 
at the end.

Hornblower sparked my interest in Nelson and the Royal Navy of that period, and 
one of my personal highlights was a leisurely dinner at The Gun in London in 
2006. My cousin arranged it; I either didn't know or had forgotten it is the 
establishment where Nelson and Lady Hamilton had many of their scandalous 
assignations, and where, some like to say, Nelson first worked out the lines of 
perpendicular attack used so effectively at Trafalgar. The manager of The Gun 
kindly took me up a narrow, winding stair, to the very room said aforementioned 
assignations took place. I was overwhelmed. Now, my bookshelves are 
overwhelmed, too. Just put the latest Trafalgar history on my Kindle. 

I have a bottle still of Hurricane Bob, a novelty wine produced after the 
storm. Never had the courage to drink it.  But I've never been to Cape Cod. May 
have to go some late fall week.  In summer, it's madness. Been to Charleston a 
few times. Don't like it much. 

Sorry. I get carried away sometimes. Now Bamburg is on my list, perhaps in 
concert with a tour of Hadrian's Wall and the Scottish Borders (assuming I ever 
can break away from the Islands.)

--Bob

Sent from my iPhone 6s Plus. This is a perfect mobile device. Any perceived 
errors in spelling, grammar, or logic are figments of your imagination.

> On Feb 11, 2016, at 8:50 AM, Piers Hemy <piers@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> And thanks again for the pointer to Cornwell, Bob. You motivated me to check
> his relationship to two other Cornwell writers, David (aka John Le Carre)
> and his cousin John (who I once worked with). There is no relationship at
> all, but
> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/8765565/A-Page-in-the-L
> ife-Bernard-Cornwell.html has some uncanny parallels in his life -
> Carolinas, New England, even Hurricane Bob (that is you is it not?).
> 
> Haven't read any Bernard Cornwell books, but did rather enjoy the BBC
> adaptation of The Last Kingdom - I assume it will come to PBS.
-- 
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