The English Library, Tenerife

A British institution in Puerto de la Cruz for over 100 years

The English Library
Calle Irlanda 5, Parque Taoro
Puerto de la Cruz 38400
+34 922 383098

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Archives for August 2016

British scientist brought modern-day astronomy to Tenerife

28th August 2016 by Ken Fisher

KEN FISHER examines THE TEIDE ADVENTURERS, those larger-than-life figures for whom the magnetic draw of climbing to the top of Teide proved irresistible. This time he turns his attentions to CHARLES PIAZZI SMYTH (1819-1900), the Astronomer Royal for Scotland and an Egyptologist

Charles Piazzi Smyth
Charles Piazzi Smyth

CHARLES PIAZZI SMYTH was born in Naples. His father was then a Captain and later an Admiral in the British Navy and also a keen amateur Astronomer. Charles’s godfather was Giuseppe Piazzi, a famous Italian astronomer, and therefore Charles’s future was most decidedly written in the stars.

Due to hard work and good connections Smyth had a meteoric rise and, at the age of 27 was appointed Astronomer Royal for Scotland.

In 1704, Isaac Newton had written in his book Opticks that telescopes cannot be so formed as to take away that confusion of the Rays which arises from the Tremors of the Atmosphere. The only Remedy is a most serene and quiet Air, such as may perhaps be found on the tops of the highest Mountains above the grosser Clouds.

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Filed Under: Ken Fisher, Teide Adventurers

Big-name writers head September additions

22nd August 2016 by Anne James

A NEW title from best-selling writer Lucinda Riley, a return for the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, a new DCI Banks murder mystery and the latest James Patterson release head our list of new titles added to the shelves in time

The Storm Sister

by Lucinda Riley

Ally Apliése is about to compete in one of the world’s most perilous yacht races when she hears the news of her adoptive father’s sudden mysterious death. Rushing back to meet her five sisters at their family home, she discovers that her father, an elusive billionaire affectionately known to his daughters as Pa Salt, has left each of them a tantalising clue to their true heritage.

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Filed Under: Books of the Month, Latest news

Richard Burton – explorer, translator, soldier and spy…

11th August 2016 by Ken Fisher

KEN FISHER examines THE TEIDE ADVENTURERS, those larger-than-life figures for whom the magnetic draw of climbing to the top of Teide proved irresistible. Under the spotlight this time is SIR RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON (1821-1890)

Sir Richard Burton, pictured in 1864.
Sir Richard Burton, pictured in 1864.

BY THE TIME he was 40 years old, Richard Francis Burton had become famous for his travels in Africa and Asia. His best known exploit was undertaking, in disguise, the long journey with Muslim pilgrims to the sacred city of Mecca knowing that, if detected, he would have been torn to pieces by the mob, irrespective of the teachings of the Koran.

To fully adhere to his Muslim disguise, in case of capture, Burton became circumcised – just a little snippet of information showing his attention to detail.

Burton’s command of various languages enabled him to translate the Kama Sutra and the Arabian Nights into English. On his travels he was seriously wounded, dangerously ill, sometimes failing in his quest but always active. His life story is fascinating but it is my mission to get him to the top of the peak of Mount Teide.

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Filed Under: Ken Fisher, Teide Adventurers

Intriguing new titles added to our shelves

7th August 2016 by Anne James

WE HAVE ADDED some intriguing new titles to the Library shelves this month, including a Sunday Times top ten best seller, a thriller highly recommended by Richard and Judy, a novel with a quirky mix of fact and fiction and a murder mystery written by JK Rowling under a pen name.

Those We Left Behind

by Stuart Neville

DCI SERENA FLANAGHAN hasn’t heard the boy’s name in years. Not since the blood on the wall and the body in the bathroom. Not as she listened as he, no more than a child, confessed to brutally murdering his foster father. But now, Ciaran Devine is out of prison and back in her life. And so is his brother, Thomas – the brother that Flanaghan always suspected of hiding something…

When Ciaran’s probation officer comes to Flanaghan with fresh fears about the Devines, the years of lies begin to unravel, setting a deadly chain of events in motion.

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Filed Under: Books of the Month, Latest news

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