There are too many new books, films, television programmes for anyone to do more than skim. Yesterday I watched the first episode of Schitt’s Creek because it has just won a record-breaking seven Emmys.
“The pursuit of perfection, then, is the pursuit of sweetness and light … He who works for sweetness and light united, works to make reason and the will of God prevail.“ (Culture and Anarchy, 1869, Matthew Arnold)
Having lived the war with Alan Brooke I am doing it all over again with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. A friend, the same friend who gave me Tommy Lascelles’ diaries, has given me No Ordinary Time – Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Alan Brooke’s diaries have an unexpected dimension. His meticulous accounts of meetings, sherry parties, dinners and time with his family and bird books are what I expected and get.
Alessandro Cicognini’s name is not familiar outside Italy. He was, he died aged 89 in 1995, a prolific composer of music for Italian films – more than a hundred. David Lean’s name is definitely familiar.
There are only two K tiles in a Scrabble set so, besides being a name, it would not be possible unless in conjunction with a Blank. Cast your mind back to circa 600 BC and you will find the prophet Habakkuk railing against God’s injustice.
It’s May 1943 and I’m with Alan Brooke in Washington. A diarist, a blogger too, likes to show their best side although Chips Channon never seemed to have a best side.