1st - 7th December 2023
Dickens at the Angel Hotel, Michelangelo's Christmas masterpiece, a modern jazz caravansary, etc, etc.
Books
The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens (1836)
I regret to say I did not much enjoy the Pickwick Papers. There are a few moments that had me chuckling but 700 pages of unlikely stories became a slog.
This had me laughing out loud:
Is there any gentleman of the name of Tupman here, waiter?’
A corpulent man, with a fortnight’s napkin under his arm, and coeval stockings on his legs, slowly desisted from his occupation of staring down the street, on this question being put to him by Mr. Pickwick; and, after minutely inspecting that gentleman’s appearance, from the crown of his hat to the lowest button of his gaiters, replied emphatically—
‘No!’
One highlight was discovering a reference to a pub not too far from where I live which will, obviously, necessitate a visit.
The Angel Hotel, Bury St. Edmunds
‘Beg your pardon, sir,’ said Sam, suddenly breaking off in his loquacious discourse. ‘Is this Bury St. Edmunds?’
‘It is,’ replied Mr. Pickwick.
The coach rattled through the well-paved streets of a handsome little town, of thriving and cleanly appearance, and stopped before a large inn situated in a wide open street, nearly facing the old abbey.
‘And this,’ said Mr. Pickwick, looking up. ‘Is the Angel! We alight here, Sam. But some caution is necessary. Order a private room, and do not mention my name. You understand.’
‘Right as a trivet, sir,’ replied Mr. Weller.
Also reading:
Frederick II - Wonder of the World 1194–1250 by Ernst Kantorowicz
Goodbye Eastern Europe - Jacob Mikanowski
More on these next week
Work from home
Michaelangelo’s snowman
Kenny Clarke - Bohemia After Dark (1955)
The beguiling opening original is dedicated to Cafe Bohemia, the comfortable modern jazz caravansary in Greenwich Village.
Oh, how I long to spend a night at comfortable modern jazz caravansary in mid 50s New York City!
Record Changer mag jazz covers
Record Changer magazine was published between 1942 and 1957 by jazz collector Gordon Gullickson. The magazine provided a space for jazz writing and a place for collectors to buy and trade discs.
On my other substack, Maps in Books, I wrote about Rivers in the Desert by Nicholas Glueck.
Well that’s a wrap for this one, wishing you all a lovely weekend.