Patrick Skene Catling
In a year of exceptionally awful disasters, of which I have experienced my share, it was very pleasant to read The Bodley Head G. K. Chesterton, selected and with an introduction by P. J. Kavanagh. Chester- ton was one of my literary heroes at the time of my adolescence, a period which now seems to have been one of compara- tive innocence and optimism. I thought then that his ideas and his ways of express- ing them, particularly in the essays, were marvellous; now, nearly half a century later, I still think so. I am grateful to Mr Kavanagh for reminding me of some of the early joys of reading.
Firing Line, Richard Holmes's historical survey of the horrors of infantry warfare, paradoxically gave me an exhilarating sense of hope for mankind, because the book is written with such compassionate sympathy and respect for individuals.
Money Into Light, John Boorman's in- structive, witty and absolutely unsen- timental diary of the time he spent making his acclaimed new film, The Emerald Forest, like Firing Line, encouraged me to believe that determined men can some- times beat the system.
I have no nominations for the worst books of 1985. I have already almost forgotten the worst ones I had to read; and, besides, one of my resolutions for the New Year is to try to refrain from insulting writers, whenever possible, within reason.
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