Tag Archives: TLS

Roundup: Labels Reattached

Posted on January 15, 2020 by Jeffrey Manley

–The weblog Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings contains a review of Waugh’s early travel book Labels. This is a thoughtful critique of an often overlooked book: This is certainly no saccharine account of a trip round pretty places; if Waugh dislikes a … Continue reading →

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TLS: Cities and Writers/Officers and Novelists

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

A few weeks ago, the TLS published an article by novelist William Boyd (“Footless giant: A visit to Kafka’s Prague”) about his recent trip to that city. It opens with this: …it being Prague, my thoughts turn almost instantly to … Continue reading →

Posted in Brideshead Revisited, Newspapers, Officers and Gentlemen, Oxford, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Early October Roundup

Posted on October 4, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

–In the current issue of TLS, writer Henry Hitchins reviews the two recent collections of the writings of Auberon Waugh. The review, entitled “Like a fine whine”, opens with this: “Looking back over my career to date, and at all … Continue reading →

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Positive Light on 2008 Brideshead Film

Posted on September 19, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

Several recent articles have reconsidered the much-maligned 2008 film adaptation of Brideshead Revisited in a relatively more positive light: –In a essay published in TLS earlier this month, Mikaella Clements writes about the theme of the “bath in twentieth century … Continue reading →

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Iris Murdoch Centenary Marked This Week

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

This week is the 100th anniversary of novelist-philosopher Iris Murdoch’s birth in 1919. It will be marked by a Centenary Conference at St Anne’s College, Oxford this weekend (13-15 July). A later conference is scheduled on 10-11 October at the … Continue reading →

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Summer Solstice Roundup

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

–A new biography has been written of Lord Beaverbrook, primary model for Lord Copper in Waugh’s novel Scoop. This is reviewed by Richard Davenport-Hines in the current TLS. The review opens with this: There have been previous biographies of the … Continue reading →

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Early June Roundup

Posted on June 2, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

–In the current issue of TLS, Michael Caines reviews a short book of poetry parodies entitled Poets Cornered by Mark Handley: Via chronological hops the collection proceeds from Chaucer (“to Spayne the pilgrims wende / A wholly blysseful suntanne for … Continue reading →

Posted in Adaptations, Brideshead Revisited, Newspapers, Oxford, Sword of Honour, Television Programs | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Art (and Power) of the Book Blurb

Posted on April 5, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

In the current issue of the TLS, DJ Taylor addresses in the “Freelance” column “blurb-writing” for book covers and promotional materials. He begins with a discussion of the various considerations brought to bear in composing a successful blurb. These are … Continue reading →

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Justin Cartwright (1943-2018): R.I.P.

Posted on April 4, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

In a recent issue of TLS, DJ Taylor reviews the works of South Africa-born British novelist Justin Cartwright who died late last year in London at 75. He wrote 17 novels (although, as Taylor notes, he disowned some early ones) … Continue reading →

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Roundup: Fleabag and Brexit

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

—The Times earlier this week carried a review of an ongoing BBC TV series called Fleabag, currently in its 2nd season. The review by Ann Marie Hourihane opens with this: God is what you’ve got left when you’re done with sex; … Continue reading →

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