Shorter notices
Double Diploma : The life of Sir Pierson Dixon, don and diplomat Piers Dixon (Hutch- inson 55s). Mr Dixon has produced another in the line of unexceptional biographies of ex- ceptional people. Most of the book consists of selections from Sir Pierson's journals and papers, including, no doubt to his son's eternal embarrassment, the great Loraine-Halifax tele- gram spoof.
John Evelyn Esquire, An Anglican Layman of the Seventeenth `'Century Florence Higham (scM 9s 6d). John Evelyn's life spans the seven- teenth century : Dr Higham's study of it loses nothing by its brevity. A charming introduction to the courtier who steadfastly avoided a knighthood and hated court intrigues, who was both a gardener and a founding Fellow of the Royal Society, author, philanthropist, town- planner and the discoverer of Grinling Gib- bons.
Charles Middleton: The Life and Times of a Restoration Politician George Hilton Jones (University of Chicago Press 90s). A dull if somewhat enigmatic figure, Charles Middleton was James It's Protestant Secretary of State for northern Europe. He spent a lifetime rallying non-Catholics to the Stuart cause, followed James into exile and died a convert to Catholi- cism. Mr Jones's history of his life is the excuse for an excellent history of his times.
Summer at High Altitude Gordon Meyer (Alan Ross 36s). Intelligent and highly readable account of a journey from Uruguay into Bolivia via Brazil. Useful background for those follow- ing the new Latin American literature or the Guevara cult. Mr Meyer's penchant for brightly coloured prose seems to be reflected in his proneness to potentially violent situations Appendices include an interview with Dr Victor Paz Estenssoro and seven Bolivian recipes.
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