Wolf Hall- yet another historical

At this rate, I may well become an expert on the history of Britain as written in fiction. Wolf Hall as a novel is somewhat disappointing. As an almost blog like account of the day to day politics of the court of Henry VIII, it is absolutely brilliant. Though, I admit for someone who had litterally nothing to do for over three days but sit and read, the book was still pretty slow going.

While reading the book, I wasn't terribly impressed. It is only now, looking back on it, thinking how much it reads, like say, a newspaper or biographical account, almost as though it was writting with the views of the people of that time in mind- their priorities - their politics. So many names, so many who must have been famous or infamous in their time, who are now all but forgotten.

Cromwell himself, feels terribly modern- his attitude- on the one had he seems terribly ,unbelievably modern (but then so do Shakespeare's plays sometimes- and then you are reminded that people do not really change through the centuries- only the names and the faces do)- his politics-his live and let live attitude- his attitude towards women. And on the other hand there in Thomas More, the man he was set up as a foil to- unflinching, unchanging- the whole story reminds me of Asimov's story "In a Good Cause-" where a man who bends his principles may achieve so much more -towards the same end- than one who sticks to his principles. More comes off pretty sadly in this version of the story- an unhappy man, a bad husband, a torturer, one who could not see that he could be wrong, merciless, and ultimately a failure.

Whereas Cromwell's greatest successes and his failures are yet ahead of him. His loyalty to Wolsey does not prevent him from serving the king who destroyed his master. Names that will gain greater meaning edge through- Jane Seymour, for now merits only a paragraph or two. The book, it has to be said, requires a good deal of prior knowledge of the story of the life and times of Henry VIII. Wolf Hall, that refrain that beats through the book, a repetition of licentiousness and promise of corruption- "Wolf Hall" reads like a prologue- an introduction to a man who's greatest successes and failures are still ahead of him.

In the end though, as a Booker Prize winner, I thought it was overrrated. It was obviously incredibly well researched, but I found the writing occasionally sloppy and confused (and confusing).

Freakiness

I did a marathon through SuperFreakonomics yesterday, and took it to work and showed it off to the interest of my coworkers today. Well, it may not be the ideal coffee table book, but it does provide food for over coffee conversations.

The Freakonomics guys as always, tackle the strangest of ideas and come up with the strangest of conclusions. While I take issue with several of their conclusions, I can't argue that they've made the dryest subject in the world just a little more interesting.

One of their results I object to, is the one that they have proving that among doctor's there's not a whole lot of difference between the best and the worst in a given hospital. The whole story is a long and involved one, and one that I'm definitely going to use in my MBA interviews, as an example of early technology properly applied being a boon to operations management.... but my point is... these conclusions they drew- it works for the sample set they had, but I don't see that you can apply it to every set. It would depend for example, on the principles on which hiring of doctors was based, for example.

Then, there's the global warming thing which has already generated much contreversy read here , and here.... well ... lets say I've overcome my (natural) aversion to deliberate largescale geo-engineering, but there are so many untested consequences. What is suggested is that Sulphur di-oxide be released into the atmosphere in imitation of vocanic eruptions that create global cooling (to counter global warming obviously)... well what happens to the SO2? Does it then sink down from the stratosphere producing more acid rain? Does it undergo chemical change in the stratosphere over a period of time maybe depleting the ozone layer?

There's a similar quick fix solution to hurricanes in Florida, which deals with preventing the build up of hot water that generates energy for these hurricanes cyclically... but what happens to that hot water? Are there any currents that maybe bear away some of that water to affect the weather somewhere else?

Where it didn't touch on pure science, the results were more convincing. I enjoyed the chapter on altruism and apathy with the experiments of List... the behaviour of terrorists explained and an analysis of seatbelts and booster seats... the effect of television in rural India (though there's not enough cause and consequence there for me... there could be other contributing factors for both...)

Anyway, its a thinking book definitely, not one you can just passively read, and though its conclusions may be incomplete, its methods are definitely interesting.

A few of my favorite things... Dugeons and Dragons....

History and fantasy come together in Naomi Novi's series Temeraire. Set in the time of the Napoleanic wars it reimagines the events- as if there had also been a Dragon contingent. The hero of the series is a Naval officer Laurence, who finds himself unexpectedly responsible for a dragon, Temeraire, who turns out to be one of the last of the rare Chinese celestials- meant only for emperors - and in this case, destined for Napoleon. The Chinese are furious and Napoleon on the verge of invading, and Temeraire, is developing demoratic ideas.


Novik writes the battle scenes amazingly well, which is very important given that war forms the backdrop of the story. What also comes through is the research she has put into it- from the study of military tactics, to geography and culture. It is interesting to watch Laurence's development. From the mistakes he makes when joining the Air Corps, to his slow understanding that dragons may after all be every bit as intelligent and deserving of rights as humans- even in a time when slavery is still acceptable; his struggles with his conscience as he reconciles what is right with his duty and what is asked of him. In the last book especially, it is painful to see him, dealing with the consequences of his perceived treachery.

The last book, Victory of Eagles,  especially makes painfully clear the ugliness of war and the levels people will stoop to in order to win. I love that Novik brings out the military greatness of men like Wellington and Nelson, while not glossing over their dark side- Nelson with his support of slavery and Wellington's ruthlessness.
Through it all it is Temeraire, who remains innocent, or at any rate, relatively clean of the politicking that goes on around him. His goals and motivations are clear - to win equal rights- or at least some rights- for dragons, and fortunately for him, with his size, there aren't many who can dismiss or deny him sat up all of Saturday night reading the first three of the series- then Monday the 5th from the library and today Empire of Ivory- the 4th. I've no idea when the 6th will be out, but I'm looking forward to it. I haven't enjoyed a fantasy so much in ages.

Falls the Shadow

I've just finished "Falls the Shadow" by Sharon Kay Penham. I admit, at the beginning I was more than a little impatient. The characters were all confusing, same names, innumerable titles, shifting alliances.

The tale spans the life of Simon de Montfort, a man I'd never heard of before this book, but now am not likely to forget, and Henry III and the last Prince Llewelyn of Wales.

In the vase of Simon, I can't imagine a man so full of contradictions. On the one side a man of principle, but utterly obstinate, a man of courage and honor, unable to compromise, with no diplomacy, entirely a man of war. And yet this man would have limited his own powers and the power of his king, his loyalty to the crown was absolute, but not to the man who wore it.

And his foil, Henry- wek-willed, easily swayed, surrounded by sycophants. If it had been Henry alone, Simon would probably have won, but he was faced by Edward, Henry's son, who had learnt the art of war from Simon himself, and Richard, Henry's brother and Simon's own temper and pride that cost him valuable allies.

For all Henry's weakness I cannot hate him- he simply was a weak man, who took bad advice. The power hungry Marshall Lords, the Gloucester who abandoned his principles, and Edward who freely broke promises- they invite hatred.

And poor Bran- who was too late- who saw his father's head on a pike, who, by all accounts later participated in a heinous murder of his own. History makes all men heroes and villains in their own time... Simon was all hero- and maybe that's why he didn't win.

(I have to take back what I said about the author drawing him too one dimensionally- the more I read, the more his entire character- warts and all, comes out)