[books 2014] The Old Ways

37. The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot by Robert Macfarlane

Some time ago I read Macfarlane's The Wild Places and although parts of it frustrated me, it was mostly interesting. Somehow I missed when The Old Ways came out; on the other hand by the time I became aware, I was able to go pull it off the shelf at the library instead of having to wait.

This is similar to The Wild Places. Macfarlane walks (and sails, in the Outer Hebrides) all kinds of traditional paths in the UK, mainland Europe and Palestine. Along the way he muses about a lot of things, and introduces the reader to characters, historical and living, who have walked and written about these places.

At times it was a bit too unfocussed and whimsical for me, but overall, again, the positive outweighed the negative. Mind you, I'm never going to not be interested in anything travel-related. The Outer Hebrides chapters (both on land and at sea) were definitely my favourite.

This book is gentle and humane and makes you look at the world in a different way, so a recommend, but you might have to be in the right mood to read it (I know I was; that's why it took so long).

[books 2014] Rivers of Gold

38. Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire by Hugh Thomas

Many years ago I read Thomas's The Slave Trade and The Conquest of Mexico. I've been vaguely aware that he'd been working on an enlarged history of the Spanish empire but it wasn't until the third volume hit the shops recently, that I took notice. Fortunately the library not only carries the first two, they were in stock. I've treated myself and bought the third.

Rivers of Gold is the first and covers the period roughly from Columbus's first voyage to Magellan/Elcano's circumnavigation of the world. It covers not only the exploration and settlement in the New World, but also what was going on in Spain and how that affected policy with respect to the New World.

Having read a lot about the conquest and settlement of Mexico, those histories always gloss over the Spanish settlements that preceded Mexico, and this book satisfyingly fills in that bit of history.

I found it hard going - there are a lot of names and places, and you never know which ones to store away for later. But it's well written and interesting.

You probably have to be my sort of history nerd for this to appeal to you, but it is very good at what it does.