A magical exhibition: Joseph Cornell
It has been a year of marvellous exhibitions – Sargent, Ravilious, the Impressionists at the National Gallery – but there isn’t one I’ve enjoyed more than Joseph Cornell at the RA. Cornell (1903-1972) was a textile salesman living in Queens when he encountered the Surrealists in a Manhattan Gallery during his lunch hour. He started […]
Classic thriller: Wait Until Dark
Susy, played by Audrey Hepburn, is still adjusting to the loss of her sight in an accident. Her husband is away. She doesn’t know that there is a doll stuffed with heroine hidden in her flat. Three villains, one of whom is a violent psychopath, played by Alan Arkin, know it’s there. They just don’t […]
Writer Amanda Jennings is my guest
I met Amanda Jennings for the first time at Crimefest this year and I am hoping that our paths will cross again soon. For me one of the pleasures of moderating a panel is when I get to read the work of authors new to me. Once I’d started reading Amanda’s novel, The Judas Scar, I couldn’t put it down. […]
Eric Ravilious
There is a hugely enjoyable exhibition of the work of Eric Ravilious at Dulwich Art Gallery. It’s on until August (and the gallery itself is well worth a visit). As I looked at the pictures some lines from Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem, ‘Pied Beauty’ came to mind. They so much seem to sum up the […]