Dante's Divine Comedy resonates across the centuries; but while its great themes are universal, its personalities and incidents are rooted in the poetDante's Divine Comedy resonates across the centuries; but while its great themes are universal, its personalities and incidents are rooted in the poet's life, and his experience of the vicious intrigues of mediaeval Florence. Combining a biographer's eye for detail with a novelist's understanding of the creative process, AN Wilson sets Dante's life and work in context, explores the enigma of his love for the mysterious Beatrice, and unravels the coded messages embedded in his masterpiece. ...more
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So I Have Thought of You The Letters of Penelope Fitzgerald Terence Dooley (Edited by) Fourth Estate 2008 Hardback
Penelope Fitzgerald (1916-2000) is now acknowledged as one of the finest English novelists of the late 20th century. Introduced by her friend AS ByattPenelope Fitzgerald (1916-2000) is now acknowledged as one of the finest English novelists of the late 20th century. Introduced by her friend AS Byatt, this selection of her letters spans more than half a century. Their recipients range from family and intimate friends to fellow writers such as Sybille Bedford, Julian Barnes and Hilary Mantel. Tender, funny, sometimes scathing but always insightful, they produce a rounded picture of this remarkable woman as a mother, a writer and a friend. ...more
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Hemingway A Life in Pictures Mariel Hemingway; Boris Vejdovsky Andre Deutsch 2011 Hardback Illustrated
Few 20th century writers have cut such a larger-than-life figure as Ernest Hemingway: war correspondent, adventurer, hunter and big-game fisherman. WiFew 20th century writers have cut such a larger-than-life figure as Ernest Hemingway: war correspondent, adventurer, hunter and big-game fisherman. With more than 300 photographs and documents, many of them previously unpublished, this visual biography charts his life from his Ohio childhood through his experiences of the First World War and bohemian Paris, to his adventures in Africa and Cuba. Introduced by his granddaughter Mariel, it offers a rare, intimate glimpse of the public figure and the private man. ...more
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No End to Snowdrops A Biography of Kathleen Raine Philippa Bernard Shepheard-Walwyn 2009 Hardback Illustrated
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Instead of a Book Letters to a Friend Diana Athill Granta 2011 Hardback
The editor of many of the greatest authors of recent times, Diana Athill, on retirement, found a new lease of life - and unexpected fame - as a writerThe editor of many of the greatest authors of recent times, Diana Athill, on retirement, found a new lease of life - and unexpected fame - as a writer herself. Her memoirs have been acclaimed for their warmth, candour and peerless prose. Selected and edited by Athill herself, this collection of letters, written over 30 years to the poet Edward Field, is packed with vivid pen-portraits, and the wise, moving reflections of a woman growing old without losing her zest for life. ...more
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Hydra and the Bananas of Leonard Cohen A Search for Serenity in the Sun Roger Green Basic 2003 Hardback
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Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
Jeanette Winterson Grove 2012 Hardback
In this powerful and moving memoir, the author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit describes how her extraordinary childhood as the adopted daughter of In this powerful and moving memoir, the author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit describes how her extraordinary childhood as the adopted daughter of an eccentric and damaged mother led to a life-long search for happiness. Later, she had turbulent affairs with other women, suffered mental breakdown and eventually found her birth mother, who was not quite as she expected. The question of the title, originally asked by her adoptive mother, elicits some surprising answers. American-cut pages....more
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Shaw
John Stewart Collis House Of Stratus 2001 Paperback
Thomas Hardy Behind the Mask Andrew Norman History Press 2011 Hardback
Thomas Hardy is one of the best-loved English novelists, yet as a man, he remains an enigma. Intensely private, he shunned publicity, and after the deThomas Hardy is one of the best-loved English novelists, yet as a man, he remains an enigma. Intensely private, he shunned publicity, and after the death of his first wife, Emma, burnt her diary of their marriage. Drawing on a close reading of Hardy's works, this sensitive, insightful biography deciphers the coded messages they contain to reveal the private grief that shaped the tragic vision of some of the greatest novels and poems in the language. ...more
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Dante's Invention
James Burge History Press 2010 Hardback Illustrated
'In the middle of the course of our life, I found myself in a dark wood.' Seven centuries after they were written, the opening lines of Dante's Divine'In the middle of the course of our life, I found myself in a dark wood.' Seven centuries after they were written, the opening lines of Dante's Divine Comedy still resonate. Writer and broadcaster James Burge recounts the poet's dramatic life and explains how, in his great work, he created a new form of narrative that not only shows us his vision of life and death, right and wrong, but introduced a new humanity into the way we write about each other. ...more
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Letters of Louis MacNeice
Jonathan Allison (Edited by) Faber 2010 Hardback
Once regarded primarily as a member of the Auden-Isherwood set, Louis MacNeice is now considered one of the greatest Irish poets of the 20th century. Once regarded primarily as a member of the Auden-Isherwood set, Louis MacNeice is now considered one of the greatest Irish poets of the 20th century. This magisterial collection of his letters - to recipients including his family and fellow poets Auden, Eliot and Larkin - offers a humane, witty reflection on his Irish Protestant heritage, his turbulent love life, his work at the BBC - and an enthusiastic celebration of what he described in his poem 'Snow' as 'the drunkenness of things being various'. ...more
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Selected Letters of Aldous Huxley
James Sexton (Edited by) Ivan R Dee 2007 Hardback
One of the most brilliant thinkers of the 20th century, Aldous Huxley was also a prolific letter writer with a gift for friendship, whose correspondenOne of the most brilliant thinkers of the 20th century, Aldous Huxley was also a prolific letter writer with a gift for friendship, whose correspondents included TS Eliot ('Dear Tom'), Bertrand Russell and DH Lawrence. Astonishingly, most of his letters have never been published before, some being deemed too personal. Wise, witty and humane, this selection recounts his youthful struggle with near- blindness, and charts his evolution from cynical satirist to passionate campaigner for social and political justice. ...more
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Neverland J.M. Barrie, The Du Mauriers and the Dark Side of Peter Pan Piers Dudgeon Pegasus 2011 Paperback
When Piers Dudgeon, who knew Daphne du Maurier in the final years of her life, began to delve into the history of her family, he made the discoveries When Piers Dudgeon, who knew Daphne du Maurier in the final years of her life, began to delve into the history of her family, he made the discoveries which he sets out in this book. He reveals that, after George du Maurier's early death, JM Barrie used his Svengali-like powers of persuasion to act out his compulsive desires by captivating du Maurier's children and the grandchildren who inspired Peter Pan, eventually bringing them to nervous breakdown, early death and suicide....more
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Louis A Life of Robert Louis Stevenson Philip Callow Chicago 2001 Hardback
'His feelings,' said Henry James, 'are always his reasons', succinctly capturing the enduring appeal of the last of the classic storytellers. This sym'His feelings,' said Henry James, 'are always his reasons', succinctly capturing the enduring appeal of the last of the classic storytellers. This sympathetic biography traces Stevenson's sickly childhood, his marriage to an American 10 years his senior, his literary achievement, and his last years in Samoa. It probes the contradictions of an invalid who doggedly pursued a life of adventure, a Scot who thrived on tropical sunshine, and a dandy drawn to the simplicity of South Sea Island life. ...more
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