Non-Fiction Reading (Dec 2015):
This months recommended non-fiction read is ‘The Decipherment of Linear B’ by John Chadwick. Don’t be put off by the title, this is a first class detective story tracing the decoding of clay tablets (dating back to the 15th century BC) and originally found by Sir Arthur Evans at Knossos, Crete in 1894. The script on the tablets (termed Linear B) remained un-deciphered for many years and confounded scientists and linguists alike. It was one of history’s most enigmatic mysteries – what was late bronze culture like on Crete, who were the Minoans/Mycenaeans, where did they come from and what language did they speak? Michael Ventris had been captivated by the script since he was young and he set about the systematic learning he would require in order to break the code. His genius and his methods in unraveling the mystery were ably assisted by his ‘Watson’ – John Chadwick. And just like Dr. Watson, John Chadwick wrote up their work. Brilliant!
Fiction Reading (Dec 2015):
This months recommended Fiction is The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. Dashiell Hammett was one of the very best of the ‘hard-boiled’ detective fiction writers and his creation Sam Spade, as immortalised in the film by Humphrey Bogart, will go down in history as the greatest of the complicated, introspective and laconic anti-hero detectives. A rip-roaring read from front to back. Pour yourself a Manhattan and sit back entranced for an evening!
