Oh the planning that has been going on behind the scenes lately. The emails back and forth, the research, the reading of reviews...it's all so exciting! Tomorrow I set sail, so to speak, for England's green and pleasant land where I will be meeting up with The Heiress after tearfully parting ways just over one year ago. We have plans to tour castles and cathedrals, museums and galleries, stroll cobbles and lane ways, and if we darken the doorway of the odd tea room along the way then we couldn't be happier. Cross the threshold of a bookshop or seven, you bet. Which reminds me of a question...how do you browse a newly discovered bookshop? I start at the letter 'A' and look at every...single...book until I reach the last title in 'Z', this usually means that my long-suffering husband has time to search out a pub, order and consume a pint and browse some shops before returning to find me at 'N'.
Our cardigan girl, Verity, has resurfaced on one of her blogs to announce that she will be hosting a chat on November 15 of Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor. I will be signing into a few hotels over the next several days and absolutely can not wait to find out what Mrs Palfrey was paying for her room sometime before 1971 when the book was first published. Poor thing didn't rip up half of London the way I plan to though.
And in other bookish news, I have ordered a copy of Friends and Relations by Elizabeth Bowen from The Book Depository. You can still catch the pre-order price over the next couple of weeks and if you need any inspiration click here for Book Snob's review. If her stunningly alluring writing style doesn't make you simply die with longing for a good read then nothing will. There's more! Not one hour ago, I discovered The Brickfield by L. P. Hartley is about to be reissued by John Murray Publishers and I just adore the cover art. It will be followed by the sequel My Fellow Devils next June so lots of time to get in on things. If you haven't yet discovered this author's wonderful writing then may I suggest The Hireling, which I enjoyed just a teensy bit more than The Go-Between, but both were fantastic.
So there you have it, I haven't been hiding under a rock but simply preoccupied and goodness knows my pea brain can only handle so many things at once. So England...plug in the kettle because I am on my way!
Kettle is on ... looking forward to seeing you!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful trip, Darlene!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll enjoy every moment of your trip.... can't wait to hear all about it! Take plenty of pictures, too.
ReplyDeleteI wish you wonderful, and the kettle will be on the Aga if ever you have the chance to come to Cornwall.
ReplyDeletea wonderful trip was what I meant to say!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time and enjoy England!
ReplyDeleteSafe journey. Lady Grey tea is always available at mine.
ReplyDeleteI am very late coming to this post, and I know you must have every moment planned with fun things to do with the Heiress, but if you get a spare moment, it would be lovely to meet you. (I'm living in London right now) I hope you are having a really lovely vacation and that there's an abundance of tea and books and good things.
ReplyDeleteOh, you are going to have such a good time! I'm not sure if you are going to London but if you do you have to go to Hatchard's book store, my favorite. You will love it! Thanks for letting us know about the Elizabeth Taylor book event. I will be going right over to her blog to find out more.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your trip and I can offer you coffee and cake if you and yours come anywhere near Bedfordshire!
ReplyDelete