What are you reading? ¨C 19 March 2020

June Purvis, emeritus professor of women¡¯s and gender history at 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth, is reading Clare Debenham¡¯s Marie Stopes¡¯ Sexual Revolution and 바카라사이트 Birth Control Movement (Palgrave Pivot, 2018). ¡°Marie Stopes (1880-1958), pioneer of birth control in interwar Britain, has attracted 바카라사이트 attention of many scholars, and been 바카라사이트 subject of biographies by Ruth Hall and June Rose. In this highly readable reassessment of her remarkable achievements, Debenham describes how her personal life led her to turn from 바카라사이트 study of palaeobotany to writing 바카라사이트 highly influential Married Love. First published in 1918, 바카라사이트 book advocated female sexual pleasure and gave ignorant husbands instruction on how to bring this about. Debenham contends that 바카라사이트 focus on Stopes¡¯ work on sexual relations has overshadowed her scientific career and literary success. Her study whets 바카라사이트 appetite to know more about one of 바카라사이트 most important yet controversial women of 바카라사이트 20th century.¡±

Nigel Rodenhurst, specialist support tutor at Aberystwyth University, is reading Richard Powers¡¯ Three Farmers on Their Way to a Dance (Atlantic, 2010). ¡°This first novel by Richard Powers, whose postmodern fictions have been compared to those of Don DeLillo, William Gaddis and Thomas Pynchon, promises so much more than it delivers. In an intriguing start, Peter Mays introduces 바카라사이트 reader to 바카라사이트 photograph by August Sander (1876-1964) alluded to in 바카라사이트 title. We expect vivid connections between 바카라사이트 rise of fascism and late 20th-century America, but what follows is a combination of high allusions, metafictional tricks (a third voice with a big hint that it is 바카라사이트 author¡¯s own) and mini-essays. Where it falls flat is in 바카라사이트 woodenness of 바카라사이트 characters and lack of any real suspense. Powers certainly dealt with this as his career progressed, but after reading Plowing 바카라사이트 Dark and Gain this is a big comedown. Intriguing philosophical explorations to sustain 바카라사이트 intellect, but nothing for 바카라사이트 heart.¡±

R. C. Richardson, emeritus professor of history at 바카라사이트 University of Winchester, is reading Battle-Scarred: Mortality, Medical Care and Military Welfare in 바카라사이트 British Civil Wars, edited by David J. Appleby and Andrew Hopper (Manchester University Press, 2018). ¡°Military history, as 바카라사이트se essays demonstrate, is currently widening its scope. Although outnumbered by 바카라사이트 men, 바카라사이트 three women contributors here offer telling chapters on medical and social welfare and on 바카라사이트 first contemporary strivings to understand 바카라사이트 mental traumas of war. They are aided in this agenda by essays from a former officer in 바카라사이트 Royal Army Medical College and by a practising cell biologist. Rampant disease on campaign trails and in densely crowded garrison towns; 바카라사이트 first military hospitals; surgical advances; and 바카라사이트 relief of 바카라사이트 wounded, war widows, orphans and prisoners all come under review. Much of this, surely, has continuing relevance in today¡¯s world.¡±