Five more books at bedtime

We return to the “Book at Bedtime” themed series which, is now in its eighth incarnation. Reading a few pages, or perhaps even a whole chapter, of a book is a great way to relax and unwind, especiallyafter a busy day, and where better to come back to earth after a hectic day, than lying in bed.

This edition features a couple of biographies, two action packed, and rather violent thrillers of the type I wouldn’t normally be interested in, plus an old favourite author in the guise of Ernest Hemingway. The books aren’t reviewed in chronological order of me reading them and actually begin with the one that I’ve just finished.

First up is "Stalin's Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess". Written and meticulously researched by Andrew Lownie, this fascinating biography of Guy Burgess, examines the extraordinary and contradictory life of a person, best described as deeply flawed individual, became one of the Soviet Union's most damaging Cold War spies. This was, despite, or perhaps because of him being a member of Britain's elite. Drawing on extensive research, newly available files, and interviews with people who knew him, Lownie portrays Burgess as a brilliant, charming, and charismatic figure who rose through Cambridge University, the BBC, the Foreign Office, and British intelligence while secretly working for the Soviet Union.

Guy Burgess has the dubious honour of being one of the most notorious members of the Cambridge spy ring, and Lownie’s detailed work explores how this deeply flawed figure used his intelligence, social connections, and personal charisma to gain access to highly sensitive information, passing thousands of secret documents to his Soviet handlers. The work also examines Burgess’s chaotic private life, marked by heavy drinking, scandalous behaviour, and complex personal relationships, and asks why he chose to betray his country and what impact his actions had on the Cold War. Far from depicting Burgess as a minor player among the "Cambridge Five", Lownie argues that he was one of the most influential and effective Soviet agents ever to operate within the British establishment.

I would go further and say that as well as being a traitor, Guy Burgess was an absolute shit, who seemingly drifted through life, following the route offered to the well-to-do by English high society, with an education at Eton and then Cambridge, taking full advantage of the privileges and perks offered by such an upbringing. After betraying his country, Burgess fled to the Soviet Union in 1953, along with fellow traitor and spy, Donald Maclean. He died there, 10 years later, as a result of his unhealthy lifestyle.

We then move on to a work that is a little lighter, but no less interesting, and it is another biography. This time we follow the story of Denys Finch Hatton, a complex figure, who was an adventurer, aristocrat, big-game hunter, pilot, and restless seeker of freedom, who is best remembered today through his relationship with Karen Blixen, author of "Out of Africa".

"Too Close to the Sun", by Sara Wheeler, is a compelling and well-researched biography which presents Finch Hatton as a complex and often contradictory figure, who had far more to offer the world beyond his romantic attachment to Danish settler, plantation owner and novelist, Ms Blixen. Drawing on extensive archival research, Wheeler paints a vivid picture of colonial East Africa and the social world in which Finch Hatton moved. She is careful not to romanticise either the man or the era, exploring both the glamour and the darker realities of colonial society.

The result is a portrait of a charismatic individual whose life was marked by privilege, risk-taking, and an inability to settle. Elegantly written and rich in historical detail, "Too Close to the Sun" is an absorbing read for anyone interested in African history, biography, or the real story behind "Out of Africa". Wheeler succeeds in bringing Finch Hatton out from the shadow of myth and revealing the fascinating, flawed individual beneath.

Next up is the modern thriller series, that is the Jack Reacher novels, written by prolific English author, Lee Child, and centred on the character of a former US Army Military Police major who owns little more than the clothes he is wearing, travels without a fixed home, and answers to no one. Free from the constraints of ordinary life, he can drift into trouble anywhere and confront it on his own terms. In essence, the series succeeds because Jack Reacher embodies a rare literary hero: a modern-day knight-errant, wandering from town to town, righting wrongs and moving on before the dust has settled.

Reacher’s combination of intelligence and physical strength makes him a formidable fighter, who wins as many battles through observation, logic and determination as through force. Each novel places him in a new location, facing a fresh mystery or injustice, creating a satisfying blend of detective story, action thriller and moral crusade. The books are surprisingly accessible, and their fast-paced plots, sharp dialogue and clear prose make them easy to pick up, and difficult to put down, even though they weren’t the type of novels I would normally read.

I’ve a work colleague to thank for this, as we ended up swapping books over the summer, with me lending her the set of Philip Pullman books that together make up the "Book of Dust", trilogy, in exchange for two of the Jack Reacher novels. I did, however, find one of the novels – "The Visitor", particularly disturbing, although if you really want to know why, then I suggest you get yourself a copy. In fairness though, Reacher’s unwavering sense of justice and his willingness to stand up to bullies, criminals and corrupt authorities offer a powerful wish-fulfilment fantasy that resonates with readers around the world.

Finally, "The Sun Also Rises", the first major novel by one of my favourite authors, Ernest Hemingway, and one of the defining works of the so-called, "Lost Generation" - young
men and women disillusioned by the First World War. The story follows Jake Barnes, an American journalist living in Paris after the First World War. He is in love with the glamorous but unattainable Lady Brett Ashley. Along with a group of expatriate friends, they travel to Pamplona in Spain, where love, jealousy and disillusionment come to a head during the famous bullfighting festival.  On the surface, the novel is a story about travel, friendship and romance. Beneath this, Hemingway explores themes of disillusionment, lost ideals, masculinity, love, and the search for meaning in a world transformed by war. His spare, understated prose style became highly influential in twentieth-century literature.

The novel ends on a bittersweet note. Jake and Brett acknowledge the happiness they might have shared under different circumstances but recognise that their love can never be fully realised. The closing lines encapsulate the novel's mixture of longing, regret and acceptance. In essence, "The Sun Also Rises" is both a vivid portrait of a generation adrift after the First World War and a compelling story of love, friendship and personal loss.

Footnote: with another cruise holiday, looming on the horizon, I've got a couple more books to keep me occupied, whilst lounging out on the sundeck, or for last thing at night, before nodding off. Details to follow, once I've read them, along with a few more. As ever though, all recommendations and suggestions will be gratefully received, and carefully considered.