I feel like a dying gazelle being picked over by hyenas right now. It’s been, dear readers, a difficult month. However, given some time, this will all be history and I may see it with a little more perspective.

Reading some light history of bygone eras often helps me put a better perspective on my own life. For most people at most times, life was brutish, nasty and short. Most of the teeming billions who lived before us had lives of hardship, sickness and injustice. We are not meant to be happy, readers, we are just meant to be alive.

Had I lived in Medieval times, I would almost certainly not have lived as long as I have now. Had I survived infancy, then childbirth or infection or disease would most likely have done for me before I reached 40.

Ian Mortimer’s book The Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval England looks at life in 14th century England. He covers the everyday lives of all classes: their food, clothes, language, housing, beliefs, travel and laws. These people, so psychologically close to us, led lives that are simultaneously very similar and very different.

Because of the dissolution of the monasteries, little documentation is left of Medieval England, (the destruction under Henry VIII chills the blood) so this cheerful and nicely written book leaves the reader wanting a little more substance. More of the Black Death. More of the Royal lineage. Despite these minor complaints, however, this book is definitely still worth some time.

Little history was taught in my day at school. Still less now. E. H. Gombrich wrote A Little History of the World in pre-war Vienna, at which time it was translated into many European languages. He fled the Nazis and settled in England and his book has only recently been translated into English.

Mr Gombrich intended his book to be read by, or to, children. It sweeps, in one small volume, from pre-history to modern times. Occasionally twee in tone, it is still a wonderful book and a great achievement. Mr Gombrich writes from an admirably learned mind. I thoroughly recommend this to adults and children alike.

When vultures circle above the dying gazelle, a good old-fashioned detective story is needed. A story with a posh detective, a doughty sergeant and an aristocratic milieu. It will, of course, be set in the golden glow of a near-mythical England. Our lady editor’s mother, Barbara, cleverly recommended Barbara Cleverly. This lady lives up to her name. The Bee’s Kiss is set in the roaring twenties in London with a landed-gentry ‘tec and a working class sergeant. The class structure is alive and kicking and very inequitable. As an aside, I think we in Australia are almost incapable of properly appreciating the long and strong tradition of the English class structure. For which we should be thankful. But back to The Bee’s Kiss - a neatly plotted detective story and a jolly good read.

To my admiring readers, if there are any, my best wishes for a great month. And remember Jeff: the man we came to scorn and stayed to praise.

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