Category Archives: Uncategorized

Jenkins recalls his first meeting of Russell Gwinnett: “These banquets were usually linked with some national treasure, or place of historic interest, occasions to some extent justifying the promise of Members that we should ‘live like kings’. . . . … Continue reading →

Gwinnett is musing on Iphigenia in Veronese’s depiction of her sacrifice:  “Tiepolo painted an Iphigenia too, more than once, though I’ve only seen the one at Villa Valmarana.” [TK 26-7/23] This is not the only time that Powell refers to this fictional … Continue reading →

Jenkins listens to a Venetian singer with Dr. Emily Brightman and reflects: At the beginning of the century, Marinetti and the Futurists had wanted to make a fresh start — whatever that might mean — advocating, among other projects, filling … Continue reading →

Jenkins visits Trapnel and Pamela Fitton in their apartment: He [Trapnel] gave her one of those ‘adoring looks’ that Lermontov says means so little to women. Pamela stared back at him with an expression of complete detachment. I thought of King … Continue reading →

Jenkins and Roddy Cutts return with Widmerpool to his flat. Pamela Fitton is not up and about yet. Widmerpool glanced around the room and made a gesture of simulated exasperation. ‘She’s been altering the pictures again. Pam loves doing that — … Continue reading →

In the House of Commons, Jenkins and Cutts happen upon Widmerpool, who says: I’m glad to come on you both. First of all, my dear Cutts, I wanted to approach you regarding a little non-party project I have on hand … Continue reading →

Jenkins visits his brother-in-law Roddy Cutts at the House of Commons: Callot-like figures pervaded labyrinthine corridors. Cavernous alcoves were littered with paraphernalia of scaffolding and ropes, Piranesian frameworks hinting of torture and execution, but devised only to repair bomb damage … Continue reading →

The critic Bernard Shernmaker is teasing Quiggen about his mercenary considerations as editor of Fission:  “Gauguin abandoned business for art, JG, you’re like Rimbaud, who abandoned art for business.” [BDFR 148/138] Readers probably need no introduction to the painter Paul … Continue reading →

Jenkins, talking with Rosie Manasch about the sale of Donners’ pictures by his widow, observes, “If I’d been Matilda, I’d have kept the Toulouse Lautrec.” [BDFR 109/ 101] Rosie replies: Do you realize that a relation of mine — Isadore Manasch … Continue reading →

At Thrubworth, after Erridge’s funeral, Pamela Widmerpool is going to be sick and looks about her:  “She glanced round about, her eyes coming to rest on the two tall oriental vessels, which Lord Huntercomb had disparaged as nineteenth-century copies.  Standing … Continue reading →