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@MattChambers Also a fan of Quammen. In 2012 he wrote Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic, which I've been meaning to read but also putting off because too much climate+biodiversity doom already and ... here we are.

@talkingmoose so I'm wondering when and why. Austria didn't go protestant at the Reformation, did it.

@Janne - wow, well done. Best read as SF I think - Milton knew the world doesn't hang on a golden chain - he was one of the best educated people of his time. So great space opera set pieces. But what I most liked was M's imagining what it felt like to have existed for 6 days and to be harassed by aliens who claim to have created you & to have the right to tell you how to behave. And are fighting over you. I came across an edition with commentary by Philip Pullman who admires & quarrels with M. Oxford UP.

@farmertre - spot on - Sammy slipped into macaronic french when he was molesting someone. Curious as he was already writing in shorthand his wife couldn't have read. Kind of hiding it from his conscience. A favourite entry of mine is early on when he's with the delegation sent to bring Charles II from exile. The king announces a bonus for all the loyal sailors. Sam standing there wincing cos he knows there isn't money even for their regular pay.