Norman Wymer

I recently went on a trip to the United Kingdom which of course meant visiting various and sundry bookstores. While I was in Carnforth I stopped into one that had a gargantuan used books collection and the very first book that I laid my hand on was called Mere and Moorland: The Northern Counties which was the 4th book in a series entitled A Breath of England by Norman Wymer. (I really do love series don't I?) The real coincidence about this particular book is that I was at that moment making a bit of a tour of the Northern counties of England. It was written in 1951 so it's a wee bit out of date and the pictures included (while glossy) were in black and white only. BUT I loved it. It was amazing to read about the places I had been to personally as well as those I hadn't. Learning about the various traditions, industries, and superstitions of each of the counties was very interesting. It made me want to go back and visit all of the places that I hadn't had a chance to see. I just love English history!! (Also, the countryside. I really, really love the English countryside and Wymer was all about the countryside.)… (mehr)

The Citadel is a novel by A. J. Cronin (1896-1981), first published in 1937, which was groundbreaking with its treatment of the contentious theme of medical ethics. It is credited with laying the foundation in Great Britain for the introduction of the National Health System (NHS) a decade later. In the U.S. it won the National Book Award for 1937 novels, voted by members of the American Booksellers Association. For this, his fifth book, Dr. Cronin drew on his experiences practising medicine in the coal mining communities of the South Wales Valleys -as he had for The Stars Look Down two years earlier. Specifically, he had researched and reported on the correlation between coal dust inhalation and lung disease in the town of Tredegar. He had also worked as a doctor for the Tredegar Medical Aid Society at the Cottage Hospital, which served as the model for the National Health Service. Cronin once stated in an interview, "I have written in The Citadel all I feel about the medical profession, its injustices, its hide-bound unscientific stubbornness, its humbug ... The horrors and inequities detailed in the story I have personally witnessed. This is not an attack against individuals, but against a system." "Cronin's distinguished achievement. . . . No one could have written as fine, honest, and moving a study of a young doctor as "The Citadel" without possessing great literary taste and skill".--"The Atlantic Monthly". A. J. Cronin was born in Scotland in 1896. In 1914 he entered the Faculty of Medicine at Glasgow University, but his studies were interrupted by war service as a surgeon sub-lieutenant in the Navy. He graduated in 1919, and was later appointed Medical Inspector of Mines. He practised medicine in London until ill-health made him return to literature, and he wrote many hugely successful novels, including the famous Dr Finlay series. This book is a simplified version for younger readers.… (mehr)

Mary had many times a dream. She dreams about a house. She likes the house very much. And in her dream she wants to buy it. After a year, Mary and her husband Tom goes on a holiday. And then Mary sees her house in her dreams. The house is for sale.
Tom liked the house very much. Then Mary smiled and said to Tom ,,Shall we go and see the house?'' And they got out of the car, and went to the house. An old man opened the door, and his wife came also to the door, and cried. ,, You are the ghost. You came at night into this house and in our bedroom.'' Mary told her ,, I come to this house in my dreams. It's very strange.'' Mary's dream came to life. After this Mary and Tom bought the house. They are living in it now, and they are very happy.… (mehr)