Portrait

One of the things I thought I might have more time for when I retired was the reading of a good book. It hasn’t quite worked out like that up to now.

But I have commenced reading an absolute whoop-a of a book, over 700 pages long. I bought it quite a few years ago at a National Trust property, probably the most extraordinary one we’ve ever visited. Quite a small house in an isolated position, and really evocative of the character of its former occupant, who is featured on the front cover.

His life was extraordinary from the get go, and I’m less than a third of the way into the book. He’s a historical figure, but through his life you can see our modern world taking shape.