Africa.

As maybe you know I'm a massive history buff, and after watching Richard Attenborough's "Cry Freedom" (GB 1987) my interest in Africa political history has been renewed.

Anyone else interested in the difficult and troubled history of post-independence Africa should check out Martin Meredith's "The State of Africa". The book is a simply fantastic history novel which charts country-by-country African politics since post-colonial times. It's easy to read and unlike many history books is vivid and never dull.

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Television's grumpiest (but almost entirely right) critic is back! Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe has returned for another series. Hooray!

Charlie Brooker [the writer of Nathan Barley (along with Chris Morris) and Brain Dead] also has a regular column in The Guardian which is quite often insightful, hilarious and savagely sarcastic. He's worth checking out.

Mr E.