Quotes from ‘The Ambassadors’ (1903) by Henry James

On smoking and habits (p.102) Waymarsh had smoked of old, smoked hugely; but Waymarsh did nothing now, and that gave him his advantage over people who took things up lightly just when others had laid them heavily down. Strether had never smoked, and he felt as if he flaunted at his friend that this had … Continue reading Quotes from ‘The Ambassadors’ (1903) by Henry James →

Kurt Tucholsky’s Epitaph – Part 1

Kurt Tucholsky (1890 - 1935) was a German writer who, from what I can tell, embodied the brazen age of the Weimar Republic. He was a political and satirical writer and quick to denounce the rise of the Nazis - by whom he would have his citizenship revoked and his books banned and burned. And … Continue reading Kurt Tucholsky’s Epitaph – Part 1 →

Phillipe

And then there was Philippe who sang for his bread. He was a down and out and wore an odd ensemble of clothes, including multi-coloured trainers and sweat pants. He had a bag around his waist and one on his back. His fingernails hadn’t been cut for some time. A red beard, a thickened goatee, … Continue reading Phillipe →

Work in Progress…

Hello everyone, This is just a short post to say that I won't be uploading anything until next Friday 29th May. I'm working on a video project for Paris Lit Up which currently requires my creative energy. Instead of fretting about what I can write as well, I've decided to take a pause. This has … Continue reading Work in Progress… →

St Nicolas of the Fields

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlOpGMWcuEY&feature=youtu.be Extracts from 'St Nicolas of the Fields' Saint Nicolas is gone and his rural flock departed.Saint Nicolas of the Pastures watches civil discordSaint Nicolas of the Meadow drowns in urban illnessUnrest with which Parliament propagated dutyIn those ignorant of the executive and of their scheming.I will sing of a young boy lost in a … Continue reading St Nicolas of the Fields →