Featured Book -The New Naturalists -
Contributed by Cliff

Four things that you might seek when purchasing a book:

• - to read and learn
• - to read and enjoy
• - to look at and admire
• - to be rare, scarce and valuable

Look no further than the New Naturalist series of books.

They were aimed at the “intelligent layman” and were factually and scientifically correct, unlike some of the earlier twentieth century Natural History books which were sometimes heavily anthropomorphic or overly simplistic... Read more...

Theme of the Month - Napoleon & The Series of Coincidences
contributed by Jane

It's strange how a person, object or subject can 'follow you round' sometimes, isn't it? For instance, when you have not seen someone in years and then bump into them twice in one week, or just when you learn a new, obscure fact it seems that it is suddenly everywhere and everybody is talking about it! Recently, this is what has been happening with me and Napoleon.

I have just returned from a holiday in the Charente Maritime area of France, where we go every year, and it was here that my new 'relationship' with Napoleon began. Don't get me wrong, as far as I was aware, this area had no particular significance to the life of the French military and political leader, it's just that it was here, in an amazing shop called Noz, that the series of coincidences began... Read more...