Peter Hoskin

Pete suggests | 20 December 2008

<br type="_moz" />

issue 20 December 2008

Books

I’m just coming to the end of Ahmed Rashid’s compelling book on the conflict in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, Descent into Chaos.  It’s an essential brew of fine research, persuasive analysis and lively prose – all in all, it feels definitive.

The best work of fiction I’ve read and re-read this year – John O’Hara’s Appointment in Samarra – is a great Christmas book, set as it is over the Festive Season.  I have a habit of evangalising about O’Hara’s work, so – to spare you – I’ll just point you towards my comments on the novel for the Spectator Book Club’s Christmas Book List.

Film

There’s not too much to get excited about in cinemas at the moment, so home video’s probably the way forward.  On that front, Marcel L’Herbier’s L’Argent (1928) – recently released on DVD as part of Eureka’s Masters of Cinema line – is a revelation. 

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in