Monthly Archives: December 2017

Huxley meets Spencer

Posted on December 28, 2017 by

In the secondhand bookshop.

Posted in Art, Literature, Uncategorized | Tagged ,

Notebook

Posted on December 8, 2017 by

At the beginning of December I took a trip to New York, and saw Berthold Viertel. I got home just as war was declared with Japan. Of course, our group was wildly excited – which surprised me, in a way, … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Notebook, World War 2 | Tagged , ,

Flap

Posted on December 7, 2017 by
Posted in Cookham, Photography | Tagged , ,

Barbara remembered

Posted on December 5, 2017 by

From my albums of the year list: classical pianist Alexandre Tharaud’s ethereal homage to the singer-pianist known simply as Barbara. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of her death. Hindi Zahra, Rokia Traoré, Jane Birkin, Vanessa Paradis and Juliette Binoche … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Music | Tagged ,

Notebook

Posted on December 4, 2017 by

The temperature that night was -75.8 degrees, and I will not pretend it did not convince me that Dante was right when he placed the circles of ice below the circles of fire. Still we slept sometimes, and always lay … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Literature, Notebook, Science, Uncategorized | Tagged , , ,

The best world & roots albums of 2017

Posted on December 3, 2017 by

Close harmonies from Alabama, folk songs from Réunion and the rest of my choices in today’s Sunday Times. Full details here. 1 THE SECRET SISTERS: You Don’t Own Me Anymore (New West) 2 DANYEL WARO: Monmon (Buda Musique) 3 ALEXANDRE … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , ,

Kind of blue

Posted on December 3, 2017 by
Image | Posted on December 3, 2017 by | Tagged , ,

The best jazz albums of 2017

Posted on December 3, 2017 by

A quirky journey back to the summer of love takes pride of place in my list in today’s Sunday Times. Full details here. 1 DJANGO BATES & FRANKFURT RADIO BIG BAND Saluting Sgt Pepper Edition 2 DAVID REES-WILLIAMS TRIO Classically … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized