Category Archives: Brideshead Revisited

Mid-July Roundup

–Novelist, critic and literary biographer DJ Taylor in this month’s Literary Review writes about literary biographies. His own most recent efforts in this field are a revision and expansion of his biography of George Orwell originally published in 2003 and … Continue reading

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4th of July Roundup

–The website LitHub.com has a story about a proposal by the former royal couple Harry and Meghan to Netflix for what sounds like a prequel to Great Expectations. Should that fail to be commissioned, the LitHub reporter Janet Manley has … Continue reading

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Summer Solstice Roundup

–In a recent issue of The Sunday Times, Matthew Syed discussed the legacy of Boris Johnson. This excerpt appears near the beginning: We always knew Johnson was a skilled deceiver and dissimulator. In his book Chums, Simon Kuper tells of … Continue reading

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Early June Roundup

–The New Statesman reports the confused results of the controversial Oxford Union appearance of Prof. Kathleen Stock, described as a “gender-critical feminist philosopher”. After the Union invited her to speak, a protest arose against her appearance as being unfair to … Continue reading

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Martin Amis R. I. P. (1949-2023)

Novelist and critic Martin Amis has died at the age of 73. Dwight Garner, a book critic of the New York Times, opens that paper’s obituary with this: Martin Amis, whose caustic, erudite and bleakly comic novels redefined British fiction … Continue reading

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Roundup (Exhibits and a Lecture)

–The Historical Association (Richmond & Twickenham Branch) has announced a lecture later this year that may be of interest to our London area readers: Takes Place: 28th September 2023 Time: 8pm Venue: Richmond Library Annexe, Quadrant St, Richmond TW9 Description: a fascinating … Continue reading

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Mother’s Day (US) Roundup

—The Oldie has posted an article by Mark McGinness to mark the 75th anniversary of the death of Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy on 13 March 1948. In this, he tells the story of her meeting and engagement with Billy Cavendish, Marquess … Continue reading

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Coronation Roundup

–This week’s most widely reported event has to be the Coronation. A Spanish paper (Crónica Global) has made a story out of a widely-circulated cheer sent up at a recent football match by Glasgow Celtic fans. (My recollection is that … Continue reading

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Twofer: Waugh and the Country House

–An essay in current issue of The Critic is devoted to the threatened demise and later salvation of the English Country House. This is by Lara Brown and is entitled “Waugh saves the English country house.” She begins by explaining … Continue reading

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Roundup: Mostly Books and a Makeover in North Wales

—The Spectator reviews a book by journalist and author Simon Winchester entitled Knowing What We Know: The Transmission of Knowledge from Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic. Reviewer Dennis Duncan mentions that there is a discussion of Waugh’s Scoop in the book: … Continue reading

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