Counterpoint

My last few weeks have been dominated by this book, Cuban Counterpoint by Fernando Ortiz, a fascinating and unusual study of the role of sugar and tobacco in the history of the island from the time of Columbus up to the 1930s, when it was written.

There were times when I was almost tempted to take up smoking again - at least a choice Havana cigar - but allowed myself to be sustained only by coffee, oatcakes and the odd chocolate.