Freelance writer and radio presenter
Mervyn Peake, who died on November 17, 1968, crafted a literary world defined by shadow, grandeur, and imagination. His Gormenghast trilogy stands as a monumental fusion of Gothic atmosphere and poetic precision, proving that English prose can be both dreamlike and rigorously constructed.
Death of Mervyn Peake (1911 – 1968) – The Gothic Architect of English Imagination
We had a short wait before our timed entrance for the Andy Goldsworthy exhibition, so after dropping our bags in one of the luggage lockers in the Scottish National Gallery we had a quick look in the Scottish Art gallery. We returned for a proper look round after visiting the Goldsworthy show. We also had […]
Scottish Art in Edinburgh
Something a little different from me today – another post in an occasional series of pieces about the art books I’ve accumulated over the past few years, mostly from gallery visits in London and the South East. One of my current reading aims is to sit down and read some of these books, rather than […]
Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious – exhibition and accompanying book
Born on November 12, 1929, Michael Ende transformed fantasy into philosophy and storytelling into reflection. Through The Neverending Story and Momo, he gave English readers a new language of imagination — one where reading becomes creation and stories never end, only begin again in the mind of each reader.
Birth of Michael Ende (1929 – 1995) – The Dreamsmith of Infinite Storytelling
The biopic “Deliver Me From Nowhere” chronicles Bruce Springsteen’s struggles with depression while creating the album “Nebraska.” It explores themes of male friendship, creative drive, and the impact of his tumultuous relationship with his father. The film emphasizes the importance of belief and support in overcoming mental health challenges.
Deliver Me From Nowhere: A Study of Mental Health Through Music
Born on November 11, 1922, Kurt Vonnegut transformed English prose into a tool for laughter amid despair. Blending satire, science fiction, and moral insight, he gave the modern world a new way to face tragedy — not with solemnity, but with irony, empathy, and a quiet, enduring sense of hope.
Birth of Kurt Vonnegut (1922 – 2007) – The Humanist Satirist of Modern English Fiction
Born on November 10, 1728, Oliver Goldsmith gave English prose its heart — a union of wit, grace, and moral light. Through The Vicar of Wakefield, The Deserted Village, and She Stoops to Conquer, he transformed elegance into empathy, proving that humor and humanity could share the same sentence.
Birth of Oliver Goldsmith (1728 – 1774) – The Graceful Voice of 18th-Century English Letters
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