Why is there only one?

[fsn]

Having some time off, I did my usual and gave the house an autumn clean.

A big chunk of this time is dusting the library - this is both boring and distracting. History books are in strict period order - except for the Japanese and Indian sections which are hived off.

I came across a singular volume - by which I mean it is the only volume covering a particular conflict. I have three books on the Spanish-American War of 1898 (a passing fancy of some years ago), and two on the Russo-Japanese War. At the other end I have many, many volumes about my two main interests - the Napoleonic Wars and WWII, but there is only one period for which I have only one volume.

This is the Spanish Armada, and the book is "The Spanish Armada" by Colin Martin and Geoffrey Parker.

The period has never really gripped me -the Tudor monarchs are of little interest, being overdone in the entertainment media and far less momentous than the Stuarts*. The only reason I can think that I bought the book is that it was published in 1988, when we were all excited about the 400th Anniversary.

Why don't I get rid of it? Err ... it's not a fiction book, it's a keep book.



My question, gentlemen, is do you have similar literary cuckoos in your nests? Sole volumes that failed to spark your interest? Single tomes that refused to toll your bell? Why are they there?

 


*I'll see your Church of England, and raise you the Union of the Crowns, the Civil Wars, the Great Plague, Pepys, Marlborough and the Union of the Parliaments.     
 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj_sShtjvpE

Knight's of Christ - not into the Crusdaer period, think it was a pressie from my mum.