A Walk Along The Wall – Hunter Davies

Published in 1974 this is an account of the author’s leisurely journey along the course of Hadrian’s Wall from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway. Done over several trips in the course of a year, the book covers the wall and adjacent sites of interest but as a travelogue rather than a guide book.

In his progress east to west, as well as relating his hiking experience, he brings together information on the Roman wall and forts; the history of its exploration; and its effect on those who live and work alongside.

The ancient history is sensibly packaged in easily digestible portions with references to more scholarly sources for those who want to learn more. Similarly, the accounts of those who previously recorded their journeys along the wall (particularly that of William Hutton in 1801), are interestingly woven in to illustrate what has changed, or not, over the years.

However it is his meetings (by chance or by appointment) with the varied folk of the Wall that gives the book its distinctiveness and appeal.

After nearly two thousand years the Wall continues to impact on local people’s lives. For the farmer and other landowners it is an occupational hazard; for the archaeologist and stone mason it is a life’s work; for hotels, pubs and guesthouses it is a business opportunity. Davies reports all views and tries to be non-judgemental but it is clear where his sympathies lie - that such a monument deserves the protection it is afforded.

Being half way through my own walk along the wall I found the book stimulating, although inevitably dated. However this did serve to show how much has happened to develop the tourism potential of the wall in the last 40 years. (A more modern 2008 edition of the book does have a preface to provide an update).

I like Hunter Davies as a writer, and find his choices of subject interesting. Although this book does not have the focus of his excellent biographies of George Stephenson and A Wainwright it still provides an enjoyable read.

Anna of the Five Towns – Arnold Bennett

The five towns are, as ever with Bennett, the Potteries; Anna is Anna Tellwright and this novel takes us through her eventful 22^nd year.

Until now her well-ordered life consisted keeping house for her widowed father Ephraim, minding her younger half-sister Agnes, and attending the local Wesleyan Chapel. Not too taxing but pretty dull due to the miserly and dominating nature of her father.

But now, on her 21^st birthday she comes into her own fortune, left in her mother’s will and tended by Ephraim until she came of age. Further there is a man on the scene: respectable, handsome, self-made Henry Mynors who is paying her attention that she is unused to.

Suddenly she is exposed to the unfamiliar worlds of business and romance, where her decisions and actions will have far-reaching consequences. Can she use her new financial independence to break free of Ephraim’s psychological bullying? Does she love Henry Mynors or is he just a way out that would only replace parental domination with marital subservience? What are her true feelings for young Willie Price whose father owes her money but who stirs her protective instincts?

Because it is Bennett the reading is easy and the characters and location are authentic. It’s also small town drama. But Bennett’s other small town dramas have more to them: the Clayhanger trilogy has emotional depth, passion and pathos and The Old Wives’ Tale is full of sharpness and wit.

Anna Tellwright’s 22^nd year may have been eventful for her but, when the highlight is a fortnight in the Isle of Man, it’s clearly more thought-provoking than pulse-racing.

Die Trying – Lee Child

This is the second of the series of books featuring all-action hero Jack Reacher. The ex US Military Policeman combines the thinking power of Sherlock Holmes, the combat skills of James Bond, and the reclusiveness of Dr Richard Kimble; all wrapped up in the physique of Hulk Hogan. You can see why Tom Cruise wanted the movie part, but not why he got it.

This time Reacher is in the wrong place at the wrong time as the female stranger on the sidewalk he is chivalrously helping is about to be abducted. The kidnappers take him as well. How unlucky is that – not for Reacher but for the bad guys who now have a tiger by the tail.

The plot unfolds – this is no ordinary victim and the motive is initially obscure. The purpose of the snatch slowly reveals itself and the action ebbs and flows. Periods of frenetic activity, when Reacher dishes out the muscle and the bullets, are separated by interludes of reflection as he analyses the problem and plans his strategy.

The love interest is there – Reacher’s a sucker for a plucky heroine – but he’s also a gent so it is all rather restrained and in very good taste.

Lee Child’s writing is packed with detail, apparently spurious but indicative of how Reacher’s mind works; as such it does not detract from the prose which is quick and easy to read. The plot, and Reacher’s capabilities, may have plausibility issues, but the whole book moves smoothly forward at a pace that leaves no time to dwell.

Just sit back (or forward on the edge of your seat), read and enjoy.

The Stranger’s Child – Alan Hollinghurst

Hollinghurst’s booker short-listed novel is made up from five self-contained episodes, each covering just a few days set at points throughout the twentieth century, connected through a family history and a literary heritage.

We start before the First World War at home with the Sawle family – sixteen year old Daphne, her mother and two older brothers George and Hubert. George’s chum from Cambridge, Cecil Valance, is coming to stay. He is a budding poet, heir to the Corley Court estate, and all round smooth operator who hits on Daphne as an aside to his preferred appetite, currently being satisfied by George.

Twenty years on we find Daphne is Lady Valance, having married not Cecil (who died a War Poet) but younger brother Dudley. They have a son Wilfred and daughter Corinna. This weekend gathering is in honour of the dead poet, now immortalised in white marble over his tomb in the family chapel. But Daphne’s highlight of the weekend is a knee trembler in the linen cupboard with (hitherto gay) painter Revel Ralph; son Wilfred’s highlight is an encounter with a (largely irrelevant) corpse.

Re-emerging in the sixties we pick up the story through young gay bank clerk Paul Bryant, whose brief encounter with the family brings us up to date. His boss is married to Corinna, her mother Daphne (keep up) is now the thrice married Mrs Jacobs, and we meet Jenny Ralph (Daphne’s granddaughter via Revel Ralph from the linen cupboard). More interestingly Paul also meets Peter Rowe who teaches at the school that now occupies the ancestral home of Corley Court. They become chums through their shared sexuality and interest in the life and works of good old Cecil Valance.

We fast forward 12 years or so and Paul Bryant is now working on his planned Cecil Valance biography. He’s tracked down Daphne (now 80-odd) and Dudley and he’s doing his best to dig up the dirt, trying to ‘out’ Cecil as a homosexual, and call into question several paternities.

Finally in 2008 we experience through Rob (bookseller, and you guessed it, gay) the memorial for the recently deceased Peter Rowe. He finds himself next to Jenny Ralph who recounts and updates the family history. Also present is Paul Bryant, now a celebrated biographer, with his civil partner Bobby.

So what was it all about? The snapshots throughout the century show changes in society, particularly the lot of the gay man. It gives an interesting picture of generational change and of genealogy. And it may provide some insight into how literary research is conducted.

For me none of this compensates for the lack of drama, tension, humour or tragedy. The best feature of the book was the cost – only 20p to download on Kindle. I wonder why?

[For a more balanced view and more knowledgeable insight into the book see the reviews on Amazon which are spread uniformly over the 5 star ratings]