One hundred years after the Battle of the Somme, it is difficult to imagine that anything new could be added to the history of this conflict. Yet, Hugh Sebag-Montefiore has written a fantastically detailed reappraisal of the battle at a time when the focus has once again returned to the fields of France a century […]
Author: Julie Corrigan
Little Third Reich on Lake Superior : a History of Canadian Internment Camp R
In June 1940, after the Fall of France, the Canadian Government agreed to accept a number of Prisoners of War from Britain. It was believed that this would reduce the threat of a “Fifth Column” in the event of a very real threat of invasion. Many were sent to Camp R in Red Rock, […]
Saving Bletchley Park
Saving Bletchley Park is a wonderful story of new technology being used to save the place of work of those who pioneered it. Dr Sue Black was inspired by the incredible group of people who worked at Bletchley Park during World War Two. As she notes, it is calculated that their secret code-breaking work helped […]
The Bee : a Natural History
Did you know that there are over twenty thousand species of bee? Or, that bees can see ultraviolet light but cannot see the red end of the spectrum? These are just two of the intriguing facts gleaned from “The Bee : a Natural History”, which I had the pleasure of cataloguing this week.
When the Office Went to War : War Letters from Men of the Great Western Railway
A recent arrival into the Library’s collections gives us a rare insight into soldiers’ experiences in the First World War. ‘When the Office Went to War’ contains letters between colleagues from the Great Western Railway Audit Office. It is suggested that these letters between colleagues are often more honest and open than those which were […]
Edible Wild Plants & Herbs : a Compendium of Recipes and Remedies
As the seasons change, walks in the countryside can be enriched by being on the look-out for edible plants and herbs. The stunningly illustrated ‘Edible Wild Plants & Herbs’ by Pamela Michael, which arrived in the Library this week, shows you how to forage for fun!
10% human
For every single cell that makes up the human body, there are nine cells of microbes living both on and within our bodies. This rather shocking fact, is revealed by the title of one of the latest additions to our catalogue: “10% Human : How Your Body’s Microbes Hold the Key to Health and Happiness”. […]
We Remember D-Day
As we mark the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings, what better time to draw your attention to “We Remember D-Day : Powerful and Moving True Stories from 6 June 1944” compiled by Frank & Joan Shaw. D-Day was the biggest amphibious assault in military history and over 150,000 Allied Troops landed in Normandy on […]
Reading the World : Confessions of a Literary Explorer
In 2012, Ann Morgan set out to read a book from every country in the world, focusing mainly on contemporary novels. On setting herself this challenge, she faced a number of obstacles including a lack of English translations, issues over censorship and discovering that some countries had very few published works. Through the generosity of […]
Cuckoo : Cheating By Nature
Over the centuries, the call of the Cuckoo has been celebrated as one of the first signs of Spring. Many will look forward to hearing it in the month ahead. Yet, the arrival of the Cuckoo also provokes mixed feelings. For a number of birds, the Cuckoo is the enemy who tricks them into raising […]