In their humble domestic lives, my grandmothers were not romantic and did not fight for civil or women’s rights. They did not personify any ideal of femininity or heroic endeavour. They simply carried on with their ordinary lives caring for their families and working hard.
history
The Norwich School of Painting at Norwich Castle. Founded in 1803 by John Crome (1768-1821) and Robert Ladbrooke (1768-1842), the Norwich Society of Artists, later joined by John Sell Cotman (1782-1842) was the first English artistic movement outside London. Of far greater than merely regional influence, it can be credited with establishing the views […]
The Regency Wardrobe at Firle Place. Review by Barbara Lewis. Two centuries after the Regency period officially ended, Jane Austen adaptations and the U.S. series Bridgerton have revived passions for Empire waistlines, corsets and fetching bonnets.
Poetry review – THE GIDDINGS: Emma Storr reflects on a compact but dense historical sequence by John Greening
Nero: The Man behind the Myth. British Museum. Review by Carla Scarano. Nero, a young Roman emperor and the last ruler of the first dynasty, the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigned for fourteen years, from AD 54 to AD 68. His legacy is still controversial and is the subject of this exhibition at the British Museum
THE MIRROR & THE LIGHT. The final part of Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell trilogy came out just before the pandemic: a year later Graham Buchan looks back on the whole sequence.
Poetry review – THE BATTLE OF HEPTONSTALL: Stuart Henson admires the eloquent blending of historical and contemporary in Michael Crowley’s collection
DAY OF DAYS: Charles Rammelkamp admires a powerful fact-based novel by John Smolens about a school bombing in 1927
Poetry review – THE LEADING QUESTION: John Williams admires Roger Elkin’s skill at making poetry from tragic events.
A study of political murders that destroyed Gladstone’s efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Irish problem.
Poetry review – RECALLING LONDON EAST: John Forth admires the plain speaking in this collection of reminiscent poetry by Pat Francis
Poetry review – PHOENIX: Neil Fulwood is moved and encouraged by the spirit of reconciliation and collaboration running through this collection by Antony Owen
By Michael Bartholomew-Biggs • books, history, poetry reviews, politics, year 2021 • Tags: books, history, Neil Fulwood, poetry, politics