Monday, July 21, 2025

The Death of King Arthur (translated by James Cable)

The Death of King Arthur (author unknown)

























A very readable account of the last days of King Arthur and the folly or perhaps pre-determined fate that lead to his downfall. Full of valiant knights jousting, treachery and adultery. Indeed a lot of the story is about Lancelot rather than Arthur. Interesting account of how Britain was split up amongst various kingdoms at the time as well as northern France. Well worth a read.

Thursday, July 03, 2025

Bloody Sunday in Derry (Eamonn McCann)

Eamonn McCann
Bloody Sunday in Derry : What Really Happened











Mix of the stories of those who were killed by British paratroopers and events leading up to the massacre, taking apart the Widgery report, then analysis of how this is part of a wider strategy to maintain the status quo at the top of British society. The personal stories are all a few pages long being accounts by relatives or close friends. What comes out here is the long lasting effects that the deaths had on close family but also that any anger is directed against the British state rather than individual soldiers who killed unarmed and often fleeing people. The chapters about the lead up are very interesting and then detail as to why the initial official investigation (Widgery) was so flawed and a whitewash. This edition was published in 2000 just as the follow up inquiry (Saville) had started which then led to an overturning of the Widgery findings and an apology by the British government.