Bloomsbury in London has, for centuries, been a mecca for influential writers from across the world looking for both inspiration and a social life that would lead to success for their work. “It is not the walls that make the city, but the people who live within them.” (George VI)…
Star Rating: *** Published by Wiley Blackwell (October 2015) Pages: 206 (e-book version) Have you ever decided to read a book completely deviating away from your normal genre? For me, The Free Market Existentialist is that book. When I heard that William Irwin was publishing a book that would approach…
Often referred to as ‘The Valley of a Thousand Châteaux’, the Loire Valley has an abundance of stately French castles in need of exploration. However, with so many to choose from deciding which ones to visit first can be a daunting prospect. People will normally opt to go for the…
Located on the banks of the Loire River, Nantes in France is a perfect city to visit both winter and summer. Over the last 20 years, it has grown into a dynamic and inventive city, full of culture, festivals and regeneration projects. From restoring old buildings to transforming factories into…
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world completely dedicated to imagination? Les Machines de L’Ile in Nantes is one such place. As soon as you wander over the bridge from the historical side of the city, you are transported into a creative display…
Nantes is a city of new experiences, innovative and eccentricity. You only have to wander onto Ȋle de Nantes, see the wacky inventions on the banks of the Loire Valley, to understand that this is a city of unconventional, quirky developments. The brashness of modernism displayed is at complete odds…
Often referred to as the founder of Sci-Fi, Jules Verne had, over his lifetime, created several works of fiction that are still loved by many today. “In consequence of inventing machines, men will be devoured by them” (Jules Verne) Even well-known entrepreneurs like Richard Branson, and adventure seekers like Nellie…
Restoring the heart of something that was once beating is something many people strive to achieve. Barn conversions and old build regenerations are becoming popular the world over and letting an old building regain it’s breathe is something that we should all take pride in. “The spirit awaken, the soul…
Rating: ** Pages: 284 Self published by Nicky Black in 2015 Have you ever persevered with a book because deep down you know that eventually, even if it is slow at the beginning, something is going to happen, to grip you, to make you want to read more. ‘The Prodigal’…
“Early impressions are hard to eradicate from the mind” (St. Jerome) I first met P.D. Viner at Theakston’s Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate last year and whilst I found the man intriguing, his book, or rather his book cover, did very little to engage me. Perhaps it goes…