Such a Silly Mistake

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This autobiographical, non-technical and mostly light-hearted account of three lecture tours through Continental Europe in the late '70s and early '80s by a Cambridge research chemist describes professional and personal interactions with many colourful and extraordinarily talented hosts. There are descriptions of meals, art galleries, ecclesiastical architectural gems, of a wonderful bed, and even of an eccentric toilet. Here are some aspects of the professional life of a don which include glimpses of how his college was run and of fun he had with college butlers. There is also an insight into the flavour and theatre of viva examinations for the PhD degree for chemists as conducted in Britain and France.

Central to this tale, however, are events experienced in several German universities, told against the personal backdrop of the author's slowly shedding immaturity. In particular, there are accounts of visits to the Fence between the former East and West Germanys before, and soon after, that border was opened. The writer describes his nervousness and, on one occasion even fear, while in that country, and his thrashing about, seeking reasons for his ennui, a question answered, he concludes, in the closing paragraphs of this book.