Russell Shorto, Amsterdam: A History of the World's Most Liberal City, Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Charles Emmerson 1913:The World Before The Great War, Bernard Cornwell, The Last Kingdom

Russell Shorto's book  wasn't a History of Amsterdam, it was the story of certain periods of Amsterdam's history - the Golden Age of the 16th and 17th Century and then the 20th Century. The Napoleonic occupation was hardly mentioned, for example. I wanted to know more about the origins of the city too, but was disappointed.

The two novels were comfort reads - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell  is still an enchanting read; I wish Susanna Clarke had written more! I sent it to a bibliophile work colleague in exchange for The Secret History, and she is working through it at the moment . Bernard Cornwell, by contrast, seems to produce a book every time he leaves the house. This one was from the period of the Danish invasions, and I'll need to read more from the series. Of course, that's also true of all the Scandi-noir, the Montalbano novels, I've not read any Georges Simenon yet and I've recently been given the complete works of Agatha Christie. Maybe I'll have to change my non-fiction/fiction ratio.

On Monday I went to a talk given by Charles Emmerson at Woking Library, who was a bright fellow. As happened with Simon Scarrow, someone asked my question before I was able to, being so shy and english. It concerned his speculation that in 1913 the Ottoman empire could have been on the verge of resurgence rather than inexorable decline.  Apparently my questions are always the obvious ones! It may also qualify as the dullest way to celebrate St Patrick's Day yet devised.