2 Jul 2023

What I'm reading ...

I have started Ancestors: A prehistory of Britain in seven burials by Alice Roberts. I had heard good things about this author and have an interest in archaeology and genetics, so I was interested in reading some of her work. We went to see a talk by her and that closed the deal. Here’s the blurb:

We often think of Britain springing from nowhere with the arrival of the Romans. But in Ancestors, pre-eminent archaeologist, broadcaster and academic Professor Alice Roberts explores what we can learn about the very earliest Britons, from burial sites and by using new technology to analyse ancient DNA.
Told through seven fascinating burial sites, this groundbreaking prehistory of Britain teaches us more about ourselves and our history: how people came and went and how we came to be on this island. It explores forgotten journeys and memories of migrations long ago, written into genes and preserved in the ground for thousands of years.
This is a book about belonging: about walking in ancient places, in the footsteps of the ancestors. It explores our interconnected global ancestry, and the human experience that binds us all together. It’s about reaching back in time, to find ourselves, and our place in the world.

Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North - by Rachel Joyce

I was, again, skeptical and wondered whether the author was simply cashing in on the success of the companion books. My concern was unfounded. This book completes the story beautifully. Maureen was a very loosely described character in the other books; this book tells us all about here. The author has a great talent for describing mood and emotions and their context. It is a short book, but it does not fall short of its purpose. I will explore this author’s other work now.