Biography

'Love in a Torn Land' is Jean Sasson's biography of Joanna Al-Askari Hussain's journey with her husband and child from war torn Kurdistan to England.

It is an extraordinary story wonderfully told by a writer with a gift for writing the experiences of other people. She makes us feel every step of the way the incredible danger Joanna and her family were in. We cannot forget that Saddam Hussain appeared to be on a mission to annihilate just about every Kurd in sight, by what ever means possible which is why this story is so amazing that people survived to tell the tale.

'Franklin' explores the life and times of Captain Sir John Franklin, who led the ill fated expedition to the Arctic in 1845, with the loss of 129 men and reports of cannibalism.

Having read an awful lot of historical fiction regarding the Tudors, I approached this latest offering with some trepidation expecting a pale repetition of stale material, even considering the excellent reputation of the author. I am delighted to report that this is not so.

By concentrating on the women that surrounded Elizabeth, Tracy Borman presents an insider's view of her life conveying a very personal and detailed account of an extraordinary woman. A fascinating amount of detail of the everyday existence of women in those times is included from clothing to customs.

I enjoyed this book tremendously about the relationship between Elizabeth and Leicester - a subject that has fascinated people for centuries.

Sarah Gristwood has written a very powerful book about Queen Elizabeth, who fullfilled her destiny to become Queen, remain a virgin and unmarried - and her childhood friend Robert Dudley. I believe that Elizabeth did love Robert Dudley, but her duty to England and the English people came first.

This is not just a history of London but a personal view by Peter Ackroyd. He explores every aspect of London life - from prehistoric times to the present day.

An entertaining and stimulating book, brimming with energy and enthusiasm - and a masterpiece of research. A book I found to be truly unique which I more than highly recommend.

'Ring of Fire' by Rick Broadbent is also the title of a Johnny Cash song - a man who definitely lived a very full life with all it gave him!

Another excellent funny book from Dosh Archer - I would have loved to have been in that Urgency Emergency department when the Melting Snowman came in! Can you imagine giving him lots of icecream from the local shop - or even the snowman feeling sick from eating too much of the stuff. Wonderful! A book for all ages, especially those young at heart. Dosh certainly has a wicked sense of humour that he uses well with his story line that are beautifully illustrated. More than once I have laughed out loud! Again another one to recommend.

This amazing book takes the author back to find her friend from the University of Beijing some 30+ years after leaving the country.

She returns because she wants to get forgiveness from her friend Yin Luoyi who she believes she betrayed to the Mao Communists and that Lu Yin has suffered because of her betrayal.

Jan Wong went back to Beijing long before her boys were born but this time she is going with her husband, a native chinese man, and their children.

Clare Mulley's biography of Eglantyne Jebb "The Woman Who Saved the Children" is informative, warm and very personal. Through her award winning writing she has brought to life a very unsual woman that time has forgotten.

The charity Save the Children was founded by Eglantyne Jebb and her sister Dorothy Frances Buxton in 1919, after Eglantyne's visit to Eastern Europe and Germany in 1918 and saw for herself the dying children there and profoundly wanted to do something about it.