Scotland Free? Video book review - 2: "Auld Acquaintance" by John Lloyd

A new and hopefully slightly less amateurish video book review of an important book about Scottish nationalism and the problems it represents for the rule of law can be accessed here: 55 - Auld Acquaintance - YouTube

Can Scotland ever be free of England? Should it be free of Great Britain? What is the difference between the two types of freedom?

Those are questions dealt with by this book. I highly recommend it.

Watch the video and enjoy!

(Remember to subscribe the channel "Ian Mitchell's Book Recommendations" to get notice of further reviews)

Video book reviews

This is the first in a series of video book reviews which might be of interest to ELERussians blog readers. It is rather inexpertly done because I am new to the techniques of film-making. But it will improve, I promise! All comment would be welcome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7yid_f-c5w&t=4s (make sure you switch it on toHD).
This is the book I am discussing in the film:

Winston Churchill in the trenches in World War I - his adjutant's memoir

Another review of a very interesting book, this time about the great man of World War Two when he went, voluntarily, to wade through mud in the service of the rule of law in World War One... well, sort of!

See review №53 here:
https://www.moffatrussianconferences.com/copy-of-third-page

Note the blue French helmet, which he adopted because he thought he looked stupid in a Glengarry (Scottish military cap), as shown in a picture in the review.

Enjoy!

John Marshall - another book review

Try item 52 on this page: https://www.moffatrussianconferences.com/copy-of-third-page

Or you can see the rview direct at: https://e3bd1cd4-bf71-49b3-8f71-fe9d2253106f.filesusr.com/ugd/f4efd5_4fac78855ca048928de996b9feb9a9f8.pdf

Reading is one of the most productive ways of using "lockdowns". I hope you enjoy this piece and others from the same site - and maybe then buy the books too!

Ivan the Terrible - interesting new biography

If you look for review number 50 on the site linked below, you will see coverage of an interesting and unusual new biography of Ivan the Terrible:

https://www.moffatrussianconferences.com/copy-of-third-page

Happy reading -  now that we all have time alone, for a (very pleasant) change!

Coronavirus and language

I saw this entry from an old and well-meaning friend on Farcebank today. However, I wonder about the language. I am not sure what "stand by" means in this context. It is the usual cliche; that I accept. However, taken literally, it is surely the exact OPPOSITE of what we should be doing, given the requirement for social distancing. Or is language no longer a useful tool for communication? 

Brexit anthem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV5_LQArLa0

Enjoy! It's a beautiful world!!!

New site to visit for all wanting my reading RECOMMENDATIONS

Making the film outlining the idea behind
Russia and the Rule of Law (see link below)

For some time now, I have been writing up my book recommendations in a shortened form which I hope will act as a useful guide for those wishing to know which books they might consider reading.
   
Most reviews give the reviewer's view of a subject, and they are often critical. My approach is different. I review ONLY books that I think are good, and then I try to give some reasons for recommending them, using longish quoted passages so that the reader can form his or her own idea of the quality of the writing or the style of argument. My reviews are short, structured and, I hope, easily readable.

All the books I cover are available to buy through Amazon, and I give links both to that and to where readers can see the authors performing online, mostly discussing the book in question or the ideas behind it. This means that readers in Russia, for example, where Amazon does not penetrate so far, can still see the authors making their arguments. It is not as good as reading the book, but it is a lot better than nothing. For those who have read the books, it adds something personal too.

I categorize the books by the subjects I am interested in which are, more or less in this order:

• Russia (law and history mostly), 
• Law (how the rule of law developed and the people who developed it)
• the Anglo-American legal world from a historical point of view, including Ireland and Scotland. 

They are all books I have read in the course of my research for my own book, to be called: Russia, and the Rule of Law (see short film at the link). Why not try the site and see what you think? This is the link: https://www.moffatrussianconferences.com/ian-mitchell-s-russia

 

CELEBRATION! Blog just passed quareter of a million page views!!!

Thank you all - glad some people appreciate the importance of correct usage in English.

Ian Mitchell
5 October 2018

An interesting and unconventional turn of phrase from a Ukrainian lady

"Willingly lured into an extra-marital affair with Russian oligarch and living cliché Akbar Gromov, she is thrust deeper into the world of the super-rich: private jets, designer clothes and exclusive parties."

This is the intriguing second paragraph of a friend of mine's  new novel, "Snow Job: the Great Game". The author is Ukrainian and used to live in Moscow. I recommend her blend of fun, finance, and femininity....

There are two words, used together, in the quoted sentence that say an awful lot: can you spot them? I have often said, and repeat here, that the way Russian speakers misuse the English language can be illuminating and attractive. Same even more so, when they use it correctly but in a striking illustration of a basically different thought pattern. 

So don't be ashamed; don't try to imitate; and always be clear, concise and conscious of the person you are talking to (i.e. writing for). And check out Ms Ferchenko's previous book on Amazon, "Confessions of a Female Banker".

See: http://jenniferchenko.com/