24 Apr 2025

Cheryl Newsletter Permalink

Mothers in Books

Cheryl 24 April 2025

From wise and warm to wicked and absent, mothers in literature have appeared in every imaginable shape and style. Read more

01 Apr 2025

Susannah Books, Children's Books, Newsletter 5 Comments Permalink

The Story of Ferdinand

Susannah 1 April 2025 5 Comments

Did you read The Story of Ferdinand as a child? Written by Munro Leaf, with illustrations by Robert Lawson, it was first published in 1936. Read more

01 Apr 2025

Susannah Books, Children's Books, Newsletter 10 Comments Permalink

Babies Need Books

Susannah 1 April 2025 10 Comments

Whenever I go shopping for a gift for a new baby, I head straight to the bookstore. Babies tend to get dozens of toys, and they soon grow out of a tiny outfit, Read more

01 Apr 2025

Susannah Books, Jane Austen, Newsletter No Comments Permalink

Jane Austen’s Objects

Susannah 1 April 2025 No Comments

2025 will see a myriad of new publications about Jane Austen – some will be very rubbishy, and others the result of serious scholarship. Read more

01 Apr 2025

Susannah Literary Pets, Newsletter No Comments Permalink

Literary Pets – Diogenes Jugurtha the Vulture

Susannah 1 April 2025 No Comments

Alexandre Dumas was always a larger-than-life figure. Playwright, historical novelist, travel writer, and even the author of a cookbook, he flung himself into life with enormous enthusiasm. Read more

01 Apr 2025

Susannah Newsletter, Poem of the Month No Comments Permalink

John Donne & The Flea

Susannah 1 April 2025 No Comments

John Donne (1572 – 1631) had many careers – he was a soldier, secretary, clergyman and scholar, Read more

01 Mar 2025

Cheryl Jane Austen 2 Comments Permalink

Jane Austen’s Emma

Cheryl 1 March 2025 2 Comments

It won’t be news to you that I believe Jane Austen’s Emma to be “the greatest novel the world has ever known.” Read more

01 Mar 2025

Susannah Newsletter 6 Comments Permalink

Authors and Pen Names

Susannah 1 March 2025 6 Comments

Authors use pen names for a variety of reasons. They may wish to hide their identity or their gender, Read more

01 Mar 2025

Susannah Newsletter 4 Comments Permalink

Driving Over Lemons

Susannah 1 March 2025 4 Comments

In preparation for my literary tour of Spain next year, I’ve been reading books set in that country. Read more

01 Mar 2025

Susannah Newsletter 8 Comments Permalink

The Pencil

Susannah 1 March 2025 8 Comments

A few months ago, I wrote about the biro and wondered how many books had been written with that type of pen. Read more

01 Mar 2025

Susannah Literary Pets, Newsletter No Comments Permalink

Literary Pets – Toby the Budgie

Susannah 1 March 2025 No Comments

Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain and winner of the 1953 Nobel Prize for Literature, had a lifelong love of animals. Read more

01 Mar 2025

Susannah Newsletter, Poem of the Month No Comments Permalink

Robert Burns & O My Luve is Like a Red, Red Rose

Susannah 1 March 2025 No Comments

One of the great joys of the recent Burns Supper I attended in Scotland was listening to a sung version of O My Luve is Like a Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns. It has to be one of the greatest love poems in our language. Read more

01 Feb 2025

Susannah Newsletter 9 Comments Permalink

An incredibly special supper

Susannah 1 February 2025 9 Comments

On 25 January, I was lucky enough to attend an incredibly special Burns Supper in Scotland, along with my husband, Ian. Read more

01 Feb 2025

Susannah Newsletter 10 Comments Permalink

Bletchley Park

Susannah 1 February 2025 10 Comments

I recently made my first visit to Bletchley Park, the code-breaking centre for Britain in WWII. Read more

01 Feb 2025

Susannah Newsletter 4 Comments Permalink

The Romanovs

Susannah 1 February 2025 4 Comments

When I was a child, I found an article in a magazine about the four beautiful daughters of Tsar Nicholas II and their awful fate. Read more