Whether it be regretting the absence of Alfred Duggan's historical novels in our bookshops, contemplating if Dylan Thomas was a dyslexic, or touching memories of a lifelong friendship with Simon Gray - 'A couple of weeks ago I wrote here about Malcolm Lowry, of whom one of his friends said, "Even a sight of the old bastard cheers me up for days." A note from Simon had the same effect on me...' - Massie's gentle yet erudite opinions soothe and elucidate at the same time. The 'Man of Letters' is now often scorned as an elitist, bigoted, reactionary old whatsit and our public life deemed well rid. But his demise has allowed the intolerance of literary theory and dogma of political correctness to fuse with the insincerity of fashionable celebrity. These modest pieces remind us of what we are missing; namely, the value that there is, in elegant critique, knowledgeable opinion and an extraordinarily wide-ranging taste.
- ISBN10 0704372657
- ISBN13 9780704372658
- Publish Date 28 April 2013
- Publish Status Transferred
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Quartet Books
- Format Paperback
- Pages 216
- Language English