F. E. Halliday (1903–1982)

This was a broad sweeping but seemingly concise history of Cornwall. I "needed" to get some background and context for a novel I'm reading about the English Civil War, Du Maurier's The King's General. I specifically wanted to locate more information on Sir Richard Grenville, who led the King's forces in Cornwall, among other places. I must confess that I did not read the entire book, but began with the dissolutions of the monasteries and the Tudors and finished with the defeat if the Spanish Armada (both outside this time period of the English Civil War). I did get some good information about the English Civil War, Charles I, Charles II (then the Duke of Cornwall), Oliver Cromwell, Prince Rupert of the Rhine, etc. Only one line about Richard Grenville. However, I do feel that I am more versed about Cornwall, their Royalist support, and their subsequent loss(es) to the Cromwell's armies. Read about 70 pages… (more)

Though nonfiction isn't really my favorite, I enjoyed this one. It read like a story and when it got to the parts talking about Chaucer's literary works, it actually explained what it was talking about. It didn't assume I knew anything about The Canterbury Tales let alone any of his more obscure poems. It was also full of pictures so I could see and understand where everything was taking place.

My favorite part is that Chaucer is extremely relatable, at least for me, and he was funny. I mean, this one couplet in The Canterbury Tales had me rolling.

"'By God,' quod he, 'for plainly at a word,
Thy drasty rhyming in not worth a turd.'"

I definitely want to check out Chaucer's tales now.… (more)