MORTE D’ARTHUR

CHRIS CAMPBELL

Reviewed by J. F. Nodar - October 21, 2026

English with a Little Leprechaun Inside is a humorous, poignant and thoroughly enjoyable memoir that takes readers on a journey through the life of Chris Campbell, growing up in London during the 1960s and 1970s.

Raised in a lively Irish Catholic family, Chris navigated two very different worlds: the traditions, loyalties, and occasional turmoil of his family life, and the strict discipline of St Marylebone Grammar School, where the cane was considered an acceptable teaching tool. Fortunately, Chris had his own ideas about education, authority, and life, and his youthful rebellion provided some of the book’s most entertaining moments.

What makes this memoir particularly appealing is the author’s ability to balance humour with genuine emotion. His experiences with family, friendships, football, truancy, and the colourful characters he encountered along the way paint a vivid picture of growing up in a changing London.

Particularly fascinating are his recollections of crossing paths with individuals who would later become household names, including the young Bee Gees and Adam Ant. These encounters add another interesting dimension to an already eventful life.

Beneath the humour, however, lies a thoughtful exploration of family, identity, belonging and the experiences that shape us into the people we eventually become.

Chris is refreshingly candid about his mistakes and misadventures, never attempting to portray himself as an innocent bystander in the chaos that occasionally surrounded him. His journey eventually leads him to Lisa, the partner who becomes his grounding anchor, and to his later success as an author.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its natural, conversational storytelling style. It is an easy and engaging read, flowing much as life itself does, with unexpected twists, moments of sadness, bursts of laughter and the occasional lesson learned the hard way. At times, the recollections wander, but that is also part of the charm of a memoir told by someone looking back on a life well-lived.

Ultimately, English with a Little Leprechaun Inside is more than a collection of childhood memories and youthful adventures. It is a warm, entertaining and sometimes moving reflection on an English boy with an Irish heart who gradually discovers where he belongs.

A thoroughly enjoyable memoir, filled with humour, nostalgia, colourful personalities, and genuine human warmth. I highly recommend it to readers who appreciate true-life stories told with honesty, wit, and heart.

Morte d'Arthur - The Death Of King Arthur

Reviewed by J. F. Nodar - November 17, 2024

I remember having to read Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poetry in English class in high school.

The fact that it involved poetry, and I was a dumb teenager, shut down my mind to the possibilities of poetry and how a poet can, with words, address a complex subject.

Now that I am older, I came across this adaptation of “Morte d’Arthur” by Chris Campbell. With its beautifully illustrated pages, it made reading the poem a delightful and more vividly appealing read, enabling me to enjoy and ‘see’ the poem as Lord Tennyson wanted.

Each stanza brought me closer to the conclusion, and I could share Tennyson’s vision of friendship, duty, and honour.

If you have never read or have forgotten this poem from your youth and want to share it with your children/grandchildren, this adaptation will help you bring them into the world of Tennyson’s King Arthur, and bring wonders into their minds and refresh your mind with memories you forgot so long ago.

A gorgeous poem brought to the reader in a beautiful format.

This review is an honest reflection based on a copy of the book I received.

Reviewed by J. F. Nodar - December 2, 2024

Imagine stumbling upon a peculiar book cover: Sir Winston Churchill, the iconic statesman, perched on a highchair in a cozy home library, a book cradled in his hands. This surreal scene, repeated ad infinitum, is the delightful hallmark of Chris Campbell’s imaginative storytelling.

From the quick-draw prowess of Miss Wynonna Belle to the enigmatic setting of the Cluedo mansion, Campbell’s stories are both whimsical and thought-provoking. The tales of Anthony Pratt, especially ‘Mr Pratt’s Game,’ captivated me and ‘A Case of the Obvious,’ and many others were not far behind.

If you’re a fan of mysteries, you won’t want to miss “Tall Shorts.” With thirty-six captivating stories within its pages, this book is a literary treat that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last.

This review is an honest reflection based on a copy of the book I received.