Wow, sadism and masochism 101. A story which in today’s times give child psychologists permanent employment. Stalky, Beetle and Turkey are three fifteen year olds at a school training children for the army. This seems to involve bullying, punishment and duplicity of the highest order.

There are stor

Originally published on my blog here in July 2001.

Few of Kipling's fictional stories contain much of an autobiographical element, despite his frequent use of the first person. In this collection of stories, the school and some of the characters are based on his own experiences; Beetle, in particular

Kippers for breakfast Aunt Helga? Is it St. Swithens day already?!

Stalky and Co. is a fascinating piece of English story-telling, even if it doesn't necessarily amount to great literature. Written at the tail-end of the nineteenth century, this collection of connected stories falls into the grand tradition of British school stories, a tradition to which the Harry

A book about youngsters, but NOT a book for youngsters, mainly for its philosophy, too deep for someone under at least 40 years.
And one big question: who is changing? People, times or perhaps both of them? That's because one hundred (and more in fact) years ago we had schools only for the rich ones

Η σοφη ιδιοκτήτρια των Πλειαδων όταν της ειπα οτι δε μπορώ να συγκεντρωθώ να διαβάσω βιβλιο λόγω πένθους, μου πρότεινε να ξαναδιαβασω κάποιο πολυ αγαπημένο μου και καπως έτσι κατέληξα στο λατρεμένο- χωρις υπερβολή- παιδικό μου ανάγνωσμα (μόνη μας πατρίδα η παιδική μας ηλικια κτλ κτλ). Πιθανόν πια να

That smart-mouthed bully who used to get away with cheating, lying, and throwing spitballs at your head during Chem. has most likely grown up to be the hero of the frickin' universe. But what are you complaining about, you giddy basket-hanger? Boys will be boys.