Another hard tale of a parent and a child - in this case a Mother and daughter. The Tale actually begins with the Mother's parents who are fatefully indulgent, granting Dorothea, their only surviving child's ('Sons they had lost' - Crabbe is always alive to social facts such as the infant mortality rate) every wish, so …
June Miscellany (2009)
A scanty month dominated by another bout of Depression. In fact a week of recovery at the beginning June has only punctuated an episode which began in May and from which I am far from recovered. The problem in writing about Depression is that it is miserably re-iterative, solipsistic and impossible to make interesting. Depression …
Charles James Fox – poor book, fascinating man.
I have been reading Charles James Fox Man of the People by David Powell(1989) and reproduce the comments I have made on the Eighteenth Century Worlds list. >>>I have now finished David Powell's book : unfortunately it is not good and cannot really be recommended. It is poorly-written and unscholarly - there are no notes, sources or …
Continue reading Charles James Fox – poor book, fascinating man.
Bewick and his Tale-pieces
In April we went to see an exhibition of Thomas Bewick vignettes entitled 'Tale-Pieces' at the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham. The Ikon is Birmingham's contemporary art space so it was rare for it be hosting an exhibition like this; it was also the first time we have visited the gallery, contemporary art not being something …
May Miscellany
Let's start with the best. May was a remarkable month for original television films featuring two absolute gems, and what is more gems of completely different kinds. I have already written about Compulsion (see blog of 14th May); here I turn my attention to The Unloved co-written and directed by Samantha Morton and screened on Channel …
The Tiger in the Smoke
Margery Allingham's The Tiger in the Smoke (1952) is not only one of her greatest books, and possibly her best, but one of the true masterpieces of British mystery fiction. It is one of those books to which I am always somewhat nervous to return in case in should prove that my memory has played me false, that …
Crabbe – Tale 7: The Widow’s Tale
My original comments..... >>>A simple narrative and moral here. Nancy Moss is a farmer's daughter who has been away at school in 'town'. When she returns to the farm she is disgusted by the eating and living habits, and her father's expectations that she will attend to household tasks. He also wants her to marry …
Crabbe – Tale 6: The Frank Courtship
Mt original comments.... >>>Jonas Kindred (great name!) is a stern Puritan, a domestic tyrant who rules his wife and daughter, Sybil, with a rod of iron. When Sybil goes to stay with her Aunt, who is definitely not a Puritan, she learns of worldly pleasure. Jonas however finds a serious young man, Josiah, whom he …
Crabbe – Tale 5: The Patron
My original comments.... >>>This is a typically contradictory Tale which can be read in two ways. The story is, as usual, simple. A prosperous farmer's son, John, takes to writing poetry. When his father backs a local Lord at an election, John writes a satiric verse in favour of this Lord which brings him attention. He …
Crabbe – Tale 4: Procrastination
My original comments... >>>The basic story is simple. Young lovers Rupert and Dinah do not got married because Dinah has a wealthy aunt who basically manipulates Dinah into putting Rupert off. He departs overseas to seek his fortune. She stays with the aunt, and gradually becomes more and more attached to a rich and comfortable …
Moving Toyshop 