Not Quite Trite


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These poems range from the nonsensical, through reflections on personal experiences, to comments on the state of the planet upon which we all live. During a long lifetime, diverse interests or specific events—either in the author’s personal life or in the wider world—have led to an emotional artistic outlet being sought in the composition of poetry. The work leads off with a limerick. This is exemplary of the style usually followed, namely one based on rhyme and rhythm. The bulk of the work is in English, but the author’s interest in foreign languages—and having spent time abroad—has led to a few forays into the wider linguistic experience to be found in other Western European cultures. So it came to be: For better or for worse, release the hounds of verse. There is no intention to educate, but it is hoped that the reader might sometimes be amused and sometimes be provoked, or even perhaps inspired. The poems are in no particular order apart from that of the alphabet. They are followed by a notes section, giving information on the timing and circumstances of each poem, and, occasionally, supplemented by illustrations. Two of the latter are cartoons by Luke Pearson, the author’s grandson.




Littell's Living Age


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The Gentleman's Magazine


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The Day a Team Died


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Returning from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade, the plane carrying Manchester United's 'Busby Babes' stopped at Munich airport to refuel. On its third attempt to take-off in atrocious weather conditions the plane veered off the runway, crashed and burst into flames. 21 people died, 7 members of the legendary team among them (including Duncan Edwards), and Sir Matt Busby was rushed to hospital in critical condition. The greatest British football team of their generation was destroyed. Frank Taylor was the only journalist on the plane that night to survive and during his hospitalisation wrote this book, revising it extensively 25 years later to include all the subsequent knowledge about the crash. Two surviving members of the Manchester United players on the flight, Bobby Charlton and Bill Foulkes, would recover to play in Manchester United's European Cup victory in 1968. Fifty years afterwards Duncan Edwards is still remembered as having the potential to have been England's greatest player. This is is the definitive, firsthand account of the crash that killed eight members of one of the greatest Manchester United teams in history.







Fortnight


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Cranford and Other Tales


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