Sleep is good, books are better
I recently learned that some of Marie Curie’s notebooks are still radioactive. Researchers wishing to view them must sign a disclaimer. Many people know that Marie Curie won a Nobel prize for her pioneering research on radioactivity. But perhaps it's not so widely known that she won that illustrious prize twice and, altogether, Marie Curie’s... Continue Reading →
'The Funeral of Shelley’ by Louis Édouard Fournier (1889). The Walker Gallery, Liverpool, UK. The painting depicts the funeral of the Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley on a beach in Tuscany (18 July, 1822). It is said by some that Edward Trelawny plucked Shelley’s carbonised heart from the ashes, but was eventually persuaded to hand... Continue Reading →
Famous writers on cigarette cards Shown above are some portraits of famous writers on cigarette cards. Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, G.K. Chesteron, Rudyard Kipling, Michael Arlen, Hilaire Belloc, Phyllis Bentley, Marjorie Bowen, John Buchan and (again) G.K. Chesterton. There was a time when cigarette cards (trade cards) were issued by tobacco manufacturers to stiffen cigarette... Continue Reading →
The Day Dream (1880) - By Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882). Victoria & Albert Museum. Readers reading #9 Instead of 'Readers reading', perhaps this one ought to be titled 'Reader forgetting about reading' - we've all done it, one moment reading, the next drifting into a dream. Rossetti was an English poet, illustrator, painter and translator... Continue Reading →
The list below is from a survey of the UK's top 15 favourite literary heroines. I admit I have a weakness for book lists, perhaps it's my book trade background. This list doesn't really have any surprises, light-hearted but worth perusing. Sadly no heroines from the Long Victorian pens of George Eliot, Wilkie Collins or... Continue Reading →
Readers reading #8 I saw this painting and immediately thought of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Oh, whatever happened to the art of letter writing? Smiley face, lol. Heart. Smiley blowing a kiss. Heart kiss kiss. https://uk.pinterest.com/longvictorian2/jane-austen/ The 'Readers reading' series on this blog (this list last updated, 12th March 2017). Readers reading #1.... Continue Reading →
Readers reading #8 Answering the Emigrant's Letter (1850) - By James Collinson. Oil on panel. 70 x 89cm. Manchester City Art Gallery. A lovely painting - I have looked at it many times in Manchester City Art Gallery (UK). It leaves my imagination free to wrap many stories around it. Not forgetting the amazing, deep... Continue Reading →
I enjoyed the BBC Radio 4 programme In Our Time this week - a discussion of Tess of the d'Urbervilles. A point made was that Hardy is said to have claimed that Tess's appearance was based on Lady Agatha Thornycroft (nee Cox) - wife of the famous Victorian sculptor, Sir Hamo Thornycroft. However, there is... Continue Reading →
The Breakfast (c.1911) – By William McGregor Paxton. Private collection. The Breakfast (c.1911) – By William McGregor Paxton. Private collection. See previous post. Captions as promised - I couldn't resist it! My apologies to Mr Paxton. Readers reading on Piterest (via The Long Victorian) https://uk.pinterest.com/longvictorian2/readers-reading/ The 'Readers reading' series on this blog (this list last... Continue Reading →
Readers reading #7 The Breakfast (c.1911) - By William McGregor Paxton. Private collection. I am very tempted to add thought bubbles for each of the subjects in this painting. If you have any suggestions as to what they might be thinking, let me know! Perhaps they are pondering the books that were published that year... Continue Reading →
The Long Victorian 