The general election is evidently, to publishing, the gift that just keeps on giving.  Andrew Rawnsley's The End of the Party has been around a while, though it is out in a new edition which the Indy have briefly reviewed (briefly, as is their wont, and why I don't usually get up my hopes about their reviews).  The Guardian have a bumper review of all the election/policy books you could ever need, accompanied by a somewhat weird picture of the Camerons (does Samantha's hair symbolise it all?). 

It's national adoption week, and Nina Lakhani's Indy article suggests that the current adoption system is not working with local authorities preferring to pay annual expenses for care rather than a short-term expense for agency adoption.  H/t ToryDiary. 

This looks really cool: Sukhdev Sandhu's Night Haunts: A Journey Through the London Night. 

Finally, some history of the kings and queens variety, with the Literary Review onto two new books about Catherine of Aragon and Henrietta Maria, respectively. 

Though it might not seem like it, I do get my book reviews (start every morning with some book reviews) from places other than the Guardian.  It's just that the Guardian is quite good at reviewing books that I might like to read!

Though I probably don't want to read a biography of Alex Ferguson.

I'm not entirely sure who Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair's former chief of staff, means as The New Machiavelli.  Is it supposed to be Blair?  I'm all confused.  Though it does seem likely his book doesn't come with the cringeworthy sex scenes that the old gaffer's did, so, small mercies and all that.

John Gray reviews Crisis and Recovery: Ethics, Economy and Justice, which was co-edited by Rowan Williams.  One of these characters is fast becoming one of my favourite astute writers on timely issues.  ++Rowan, it isn't you, please try harder!  No, not in The Times. 

I wanted to post Gray's magisterial article in the latest LRB last week, but we're on dial-up speed internet these days, and it wouldn't happen for me then.  So here it is now: Farewell Welfare State. 

Should we all decide to take to the streets, the new edition of Clive Bloom's Violent London: 2000 Years of Riots, Rebels and Revolts might come in handy.  'Civil disobedience' is one of my favourite odd expressions. 

If I could be bothered (it's Monday), I would nattily tie together civil disobedience with the Jacobite rebels who, didya know, inspired the first Ordinance Survey.  Rachel Hewitt has written a biography of the OS, which sounds fabulously fascinating.  (All this talk of mapping and stealth and military invasions is making me want to re-read one of my All-time Favourite academic articles, Thomas Richards' 'Archive and Utopia' [paywall]).  

Finally, The Butterfly Isles is the epic tale of one man's quest to see all 59 native British butterfly species in one summer.  It sounds Roger Deakin-esque. 

The Carbuncle award is annually bestowed for the most dismal town in Scotland.  Not being a Scottish romanticist (though neither am I the ghost of Trevor-Roper), and having formerly lived outside beautiful Dundee (which works a Soviet Russia look), I imagine the nominees list to be rather long.  This year's winner was John O'Groats.  I have been.  It ain't no Cape Reinga, that's for sure.  But!  Award drama!  Groats refuse to accept it, and the residents of Denny (Stirlingshire) are desperate to have it given to them instead.  The Denny logic is that winning the award will help them clean up their derelict town centre. 

On the derelict centres and social unease front: Notting Hill.  Channel 4 have decided to fill the big gaping hole left by the end of Big Brother (here I play the world's smallest violin in lamentation) with a fly-on-the-wall series about the suburb.  Skip the first paragraph or two about reality telly promises and this Indy article has a great Notting Hill potted history. 

Also in London, the St Marylebone Society have released some amazing colour film from the Blitz.  You can watch it on the West End at War site. 

Oranges and Sunshine, is a new film about Margaret Humphreys, the social worker who blew the whistle on the 'home children' scheme.  It's directed by Ken Loach's son, Jim Loach, and is apparently set for release in the next northern hemisphere spring, which should mean I'll be in the UK to see it. 

Nick Clegg has given his speech to the Lib Dem conference, and every Guardian political writer has an opinion on it. 

Finally, in exciting anthropology of Britain news, Simone Abram is guesting at Savage Minds.  In her first post, she discusses Iain Duncan Smith's housing proposals, suggesting he views them as being and having 'magical properties'.  This might give her the distinction of being the first anthropologist to put the magic in the Conservative party.  P-p-power of voodoo.  (All of her posts will be listed here as they are published, which helps with my anthro of new media allergies.)

Now, I'm off to read 'Enacting Rural Sociology: Or what are the Creativity Claims of the Engaged Sciences?'.  Answers on a postcard.