19th Century Farming Life Revealed

Quite interesting,some gems of information, but also at times seems a bit padded and filled out with additional research rather than just the voices of those remembering. It would have been to get a bit more verbatim speech from the old folk. The contexts provided by the author are probably pretty essential though.

What a load of tosh

I read quite a lot of Iris Murdoch during the 80s and 90s but for some reason missed this one - perhaps because it is rubbish. The lead character (Charles), and only voice, is an unpleasant egotistical misogynist who it is impossible (today) to like or empathise with. Possibly in the 70s his attitudes were more common, and even seen among the middle/upper-middle class world Murdoch inhabits, as being acceptable and even admirable - but it is not so today. (and I don't think I would have found it acceptable then - but who knows). 

The story itself is also quite fantastical, with elements of a Brian Rix bedroom farce as the small cast of characters keep bursting in on Charles's hideaway. I kept expecting that it would be revealed that this was all a dream concocted by Charles in a lunatic asylum.He came across as a totally delusional character and a nasty person - why on earth is Murdoch apparently presenting him as in some way important. There is no relief at the end as he is seemingly ustified and rewarded.

The writing is very 'literary' - something I seem to remember quite liking about Murdoch, but here it comes across as pompous and artificial. I can see why it might have won a literary prize back in the 70s when this is all there was - but now we have such a richer collection of diverse voices getting published there is no need to praise this tosh.

I did persist with this to the end, hoping against hope that it would turn around, but no such luck.

Why, not How To

The first part is right on the nail. Provides the detail that totally debunks the XR NVDA proponents reliance on lessons from history. Very good.

The second part is also useful, covering some examples of possible actions and their pros and cons with examples and how the radical flank has to walk a difficult tightrope between undermining the main thrust of the movement by provoking an extreme reaction, and being ineffective in convincing the fossil powers that they need to make changes to accommodate the demands for change.

The third part is really unsatisfactory as it is a digression to tilt at some windmills that really do not deserve attention. 

What is lacking is any discussion of the forms that effective action might take or the nuts and bolts of organising - perhaps this is for another writer to pick up.