History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters - Julian Barnes

History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters - Julian Barnes: This History Ain't Bunk!!! (1665 words)
by jatkinson100 - written on 13.03.02 (Very useful, 3346 readings)
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This is certainly my favourite of Barnes' work, and a great work it is too. The title shows a lot about what to expect from the book - a look back in time, but an unconventional and often amusing one too. From man's forefathers, Noah rather than Adam, to our greatest (alledgedly) achievement of travelling to space, Barnes captures some of the the major, and minor, peices of history, intimately, and includes pure fiction and a lot of speculation in there too. 1: The Stowaway The voyage on the Ark is told by one of the voyagers who dispells the myths about Noah and his kin, and gives the "correct" dates and timings of the events ...

Julian The Genius! (1157 words)
by Ophelia - written on 28.08.01 (Very useful, 969 readings)
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10 1/2 Chapters? Not only does Julian Barnes manage to condense the history of, not only the world, put the workings of the human psyche into under 11 chapters, he skilfully provides an extremely intriguing title to his novel. This gimmick is successful, as once you embark upon the journey of his tale you will not be disappointed. Each chapter of the book relates a self-contained short story and yet each chapter is inextricably linked from the rest of the book, through themes, topics, emotions and the human condition. 1. The Stowaway Barnes starts his epic journey by recounting the events surrounding the flooding of the earth and the ...