Category: Literature

Dinner was rather strained

On February 13th 1935 Harold Nicolson was again staying with Betty Morrow, Dwight Morrow’s widow, and Anne and Charles Lindbergh at Englewood, New Jersey. This is what he wrote to Vita the following day. 

Thor what it’s worth

Dwight Morrow (1873 – 1931) was an American businessman, diplomat and politician. His daughter, Anne, decided to commemorate him by commissioning a biography.

Wodehouse Wednesday

Yesterday was Stuffing Wednesday, not to be confused with Stir-up Sunday. I went to the Chairman’s elegant but untidy residence in Maida Vale.

Nicky Haslam

Nicky Haslam has had a variety of bedfellows but none more surprising than General Sir John Hackett, GCB, CBE, DSO & bar, MC and Sir Max Hastings. His autobiography, Redeeming Features, lies between Hackett’s I was a Stranger and Hastings’s Did You Really Shoot the Television? on my biog/diary shelves.

Harold Nicolson

Shortly after it was published in 2004 I was given Harold Nicolson, Diaries and Letters, 1907 – 1964 edited by his son Nigel.

At Freddie’s

I’ve just read another novel about a stage school that specialises in teaching Shakespeare. (The previous one was If We Were Villains.)

Published
Categorised as Literature

If We Were Villains

ML Rio’s first novel, published last year, has been compared to Donna Tartt’s debut, A Secret History. Not a good omen as I didn’t think Secret History cut the mustard.

Viscount Norwich, CVO

Lord Rothschild represented The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. I represented you, readers who share my admiration for John Julius Norwich, on Wednesday.

Put Bull in Box

On the whole I had an idyllic childhood at Barmeath. I enjoyed the company of my mother, my grandparents and especially my much older siblings, though they were seldom around.

The Last of the Mohicans

Two books that everyone knows are Moby Dick and The Last of the Mohicans – but I’ve not read either of them.