Category: Books
-
The Poems of Evelyn De Morgan
I have been working for a little while now on the poems of the Pre-Raphaelite painter Evelyn De Morgan (1855-1919) and am delighted that the book is now published. A few years ago I discovered that the De Morgan Foundation held manuscripts – notebooks, mostly – of the young Evelyn Pickering, which included poems, stories,…
-
William Morris’s The Earthly Paradise
William Morris’s The Earthly Paradise is an irresistible text: it is rich in language, meaning, ideas, philosophy, history and also topics and themes which still resonate in the 21st century. But it is very long, and is divided into ‘books’ which correspond to months, so what better way to read it than by reading a…
-
Beyond the Brotherhood: The Pre-Raphaelite Legacy
It seems a long time since we could travel to visit exhibitions, but two months ago I was able to attend the opening event for the ‘Beyond the Brotherhood’ exhibition at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum in Bournemouth. After a crazy couple of months, I have been revisiting it via the excellent catalogue, which…
-
Book Review: To See Clearly: Why Ruskin Matters
Since 2019 marks the bicentenary of John Ruskin’s birth, there has been an explosion of interest in the form of events, books, articles, etc. The Radio 4 In Our Time episode devoted to Ruskin in 2005 wondered if 2019 would see as much enthusiasm for him as his centenary year in 1919: i can’t compare but…
-
Book Review: The Testaments
I tried to hold off reading The Testaments, but as the hype built and then the reviews started arriving, I gave in, and read it in two days. Few books besides Harry Potter get the kind of build-up this had, including the major launch in London, the pre-publication Booker nomination, and the endless speculation in the…
-
Sanditon: ‘when rich people are sordid’
What better way to go into September than discussing the best place to go for a seaside holiday. Where did you go? Where can you stay in a nice house, take the sea air to improve your health, and enjoy the company of the rich and fashionable? These conversations begin Jane Austen’s novel Sanditon, which opens with…