A place in the sun

    A sudden burst of sunshine in the study the other day lit up a small section of one of the biography shelves, so that's a fine excuse to mention a few of the 'illuminated' books.

 

    Of those with a place in the sun, my particular favourites include Candida Lycett Green's Over the Hills and Far Away, an account of her journey on horseback through Yorkshire and Northumberland, and a recollection of her earlier life (she is John Betjeman's daughter). Anne de Courcy is always good value and there are three of hers there: Society's Queen, 1939 - The Last Season, and The Viceroy's Daughters, so if you're interested in the upper echelons of society in early 20th century Britain, she shouldn't be overlooked.

Next is Selina Hastings on Rosamund Lehmann, Elizabeth Jane Howard's Slipstream, Josceline Dimbleby's family memoir featuring Edward Burne-Jones, A Profound Secret, and just about to disappear into shadow is Claire Tomalin's Jane Austen: A Life.

(All Mr. C's worthy but most likely dull* political biographies were left in the dark!

*He says they are exciting).

Comments

[Jennifer]

Wow, I need more hours in the day, well, who needs sleep, eh? Some of those look really great. Thanks for sharing them with us.

[kristina]

G and I are similarly divided on his war and history books, which I find terribly boring but he insists are very exciting!

[Sian]

What a wonderful idea for a post! "Over the hills and far away" sounds like one to look out for.

[Darlene]

Your home has fantastically high ceilings! You have a terrific collection of books and something tells me there's more than we see here.

[BooksPlease]

What a beautiful spotlight on such interesting books!

[Mr C]

I'm not sure - though I should be - if you've pointed out before how apt it is that a group biography of the Mitfords sits, alphabetically and politically, between Lenin and Mussolini.