A new series on Lizzy’s Literary Life, which is beginning to take on a (selected) diary alterego.
I’ve always been a culture vulture. It’s only when I lived in Germany, that I decided to take a month long rail tour of the UK! This was pre-marriage, pre-motherhood, pre-digital photography. So while we’re at it, let’s dispense with hopes of fresh-faced hopeful youthfulness. (I have told you that Jude the Obscure is a cheering read, haven’t I? Cheering as in the sense of life could be worse … could be like Jude’s …)
Middle-age notwithstanding, I remain a culture vulture and during 2009 I’m going to document that particular addiction – which, may or may not be book-related. For January, it is …. sort of.
While in Scotland and within a 60-minute drive of Edinburgh, the place to visit is the National Gallery and The Vaughan Bequest. It’s a great start to any New Year – particularly to fans of Turner’s art – and it beats a Hogmanay hangover any day! Henry Vaughan was a 19th-century collector of Turner’s drawings and watercolours. In 1900 he bequested them to the Scottish nation, stipulating that they could only be shown in January, free-of-charge, “when the light is at its weakest and least destructive”. 38 paintings in all, most of them unavailable online or in book format, unless of course, you possess the National Gallery’s publication – which, I do. A much loved volume on my art history shelves. The front cover depicting, perhaps the finest painting in the collection – a colourful thunderstorm in Venice.
A storm incidentally more colourful, warm and romantic than the storm that was wreaking havoc in Edinburgh last Sunday. I was far too busy battling the elements to get out the camera. It was something akin to this but much, much wetter!
Picture courtesy of Daveybot from Flickr.
The Assassin's Song - M G Vassanji
The White Castle - Orhan Pamuk
Hysteria - Andrew Scull
The File - Tim Garton Ash
Ordinary Thunderstorms - William Boyd
Fighting It - Regi Claire
Foolish Mortals - Jennifer Johnston
The Bethlehem Murders - Matt Rees
Basil - Wilkie Collins
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher
Adam Gould - Julia O'Faolain
The House at Riverton - Kate Morton
Der Struwwelpeter auf Englisch - Translated by Mark Twain
Three Bags Full - Leonie Swann
Mystic Pig - Richard Katrovas
The Blue Fox - Sjon
The Latin American Challenge
1. The Blue Fox 
Inkheart - Cornelia Funke
The Enchanted April - Elizabeth von Arnim
That’s very interesting about those pieces and when they’re shown. Great photo. I lived in Germany for two years and Jude The Obscure is my favourite hardy novel. Have a nice Sunday.
And, since you are a Culture Vulture, what music did you put on when you got home? I’m pretty sure an art book here has a major Turner that will do for that part but more data is needed on the music — and type of tea as well, now that I think about it.
[...] latter than the former. In fact, I have already reported on two trips to Edinburgh this year (Here and Here). So, for the next month or so, in the interests of unbiased reporting, Lizzy is going [...]