"As long ago as 1924, Vita had recorded simple everyday occurrences guaranteed to make her happy: 'walking on crisp snow; running a stick along railings; stamping on a nut; stripping the shell from a hard-boiled egg; writing with the really ideal nib*; plunging into the sudden comfort of warm water on a cold night'. Each inspired a sensation she labelled 'through leaves' on the analogy of the uncomplicated pleasure inherent in kicking one's way through dry leaves on an autumn walk. Though not intended as an inventory of personal fulfilment (Vita's list omitted Harold [her husband], poetry, gardening, her houses, Ben, Nigel [her sons], dogs and intimate friends, it indicates something of the nature of her engagement with her world."
From Behind the Mask: The Life of Vita Sackville-West
*Oh yes!
Oh, you have me in a quandary. I was going to download this and listen and now I think I would enjoy reading it. What to do........
Posted by: Claire | 28 October 2014 at 07:34 PM
I think I'd suggest reading it, Claire.
Posted by: Cornflower | 28 October 2014 at 08:06 PM
Yes, you're right - I'm going to put it on my C******** list.
Posted by: Claire | 29 October 2014 at 07:59 AM
Good grief. Not available in the US until June 9, 2015.
Posted by: Mary | 29 October 2014 at 01:03 PM
This sounds right up my street. I love books in which people write about simple things which give pleasure. Bernard Levin did this in his book Enthusiasms, and in a way Mrs Miniver is about fairly simple things, a new engagement diary, and so forth (even though that one is a work of fiction.) I love the idea of stepping on a nut giving pleasure. When we step on nuts in our garden the first thing we think of is to remember to remove our shoves on entry as the walnut husk leaves a bright yellow stain on anything with which it comes into contact!
Margaret P
Posted by: Margaret Powling | 30 November 2014 at 05:04 PM