The Fort by Bernard Cornwell

The Fort by Bernard Cornwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In June of 1779 a force of seven hundred British soldiers and marines, transported by a handful of Royal Navy vessels, were dispatched to the town of Majabigwaduce on the Penobscot river to establish a fortification and take control of the surrounding area. Under the command of the veteran General Francis McLean they began to construct their defenses, but they had barely had time to construct simple earthworks no higher than a man's waist before the American revolutionaries in Boston raised a force of over a thousand men and forty ships against them with orders to 'Captivate, kill and destroy' the occupying forces.

Despite some initial successes, the American forces fell into disarray with neither the militia forces under Brigadier General Solomon Lovell nor the naval force of Commodore Dudley Saltonstall being willing to risk pressing home the attack. Will the British be able to survive a prolonged siege under the bombardment of the American guns, or will the Americans find a way of making use of their superior numbers?

Cornwell tells the story from both sides of the conflict, interspersed with letters, orders and contemporary accounts of the battle. Notable characters from history are featured, including the first taste of battle for the Lt. John Moore who was to rise to the rank of Lieutenant-General in the Peninsular war thirty years later, and Paul Revere who proves not to be the paragon of revolutionary fervor of popular belief.

Another excellent historical work, from the creator of Sharpe.



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Catfish

New York photographer Yaniv Schulman forms an unlikely internet friendship after one of his pictures is transformed into a painting by a talented eight year old artist called Abby. He exchanges messages on Facebook with Abby's mother Angela, and finds that he is becoming attracted to Abby's 19 year old half sister Megan. Their growing online relationship is documented by two filmmakers - Yaniv's brother Arial and friend Henry Joost who sense an opportunity to tell a story as events unfold when Yaniv makes the trip from New York to rural Michigan to meet Megan and her family.

This is a film that should be seen without knowing more than the basic premise if at all possible, but if you have ever wondered about the real people behind Facebook profiles then this will appeal to you.

Highly recommended.

Sunday Links

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• Future Timeline Fascinating futurology blog (h/t Steve!)
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