Until we meet again...

Dearest readers,

I really must say thank you for reading my antics this past year.  You have no idea how your thoughts and comments on my blog have been such a light to my life.  I literally run home from work and check what you have to say on a daily basis.  Thank you!

The next year will bring quite a change to Hibernian Homme.  All good, I assure you.  I won't reveal anything yet, but will save it until we meet again in the new year.  A hint, though, is found in the photograph above - taken by me back in 2008.  Take a guess!

Until then,

D-H

Anno MMX-Favorite Reads

I've tossed and I've turned and I think I've found my favorite reads for 2010.  Here's the list with the post it inspired and the reasoning:

5.  Nights at the Circus - Angela Carter (and another one)

I'm not one who wanted to run away to the circus as wee lad, but I certainly wanted to run away with this book.  Her prose on a circus travelling through Imperial Russia, were not only gorgeous, but witty and graphic.

4. Down the Garden Path - Beverley Nichols

What can I say?  I love Beverley Nichols, and his descriptions of gardening are extremely accurate and hysterical. 

3. Our Lady of the Flowers - Jean Genet

What a read!  His evocative imagery can rival no one.  A torrid tale written in prison, destroyed, then written again on scrap paper. It also challenged me to dust parts of my brain that haven't been used in years. 

2. The Heir - Vita Sackville-West

A tiny little novella, with an innocent tale of a man inheriting an Elizabethan manor with a flock of peacocks.  Was it profound, moody or life-changing?  Non. But it stuck with me, and I often find myself thinking about it.

1. The Pursuit of Love - Nancy Mitford (and here)

This was the one that started it all.  The year I became obsessed with the Mitfords.  I thankfully have passed this book onto many kin, they all worship me now.  Although, my mother (who loved it) has recently said to me: "If you start a sentence with 'Nancy Mitford' one more time, I'm gonna kill myself."

There you have it!  Next year, I hope to read more wonderful books and will always gladly read and enjoy your recommendations!

Anno MMX-A Year in Reading

As I've mentioned before, this was the first year I kept a list of what I've read.  Even then, I know I lost track for a month or so.   My list is unbelievably short compared to seasoned book-bloggers (135+!), but it's fun seeing the list in retrospect.  In chronological order:

Nights at the Circus - Angela Carter

Brooklyn - Colm Toibim

All Passion Spent - Vita Sackville-West

Howard's End is on the Landing - Susan Hill

Intimate Companions - David Leddick

The Heir - Vita Sackville-West

Le Livre Blanc - Jean Cocteau

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies - Jane Austen and Co.

Free For All - Don Bochert

Memoirs of Montparnasse - John Glassco

From a Paris Garrett - Richard LeGallienne

Dream of Perpetual Motion - Dexter Palmer

Down the Garden Path - Beverley Nichols

Bright Young People - DJ Taylor

Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

Twenty-five - Beverley Nichols

The Bolter - Frances Osbourne

The Giver - Lois Lowry

West with the Night - Beryl Markham

If On a Winter's Night a Traveler - Italo Calvino

The Pursuit of Love - Nancy Mitford

Our Lady of the Flowers - Jean Genet

The Little Stranger - Sarah Waters

Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English - Natasha Solomons

The City and the Pillar - Gore Vidal

Ask Alice - DJ Taylor

Mayflower - Nathanial Philbrick

Water For Elephants - Sarah Guerrin

Strait is the Gate - Andre Gide

Sleepless Nights - Elizabeth Hardwick

The Bookshop at 10 Curzon Street - Heywood Hill and Nancy Mitford

Jeeves in the Morning - PG Wodehouse

Love in a Cold Climate - Nancy Mitford

Nancy Mitford - Harold Acton

Tea with Mr. Rochester - Frances Towers

I'm having a hard time deciding which ones are my favorite, so I'll do what I do best and postpone it until tomorrow!  Have you read any of these and liked or disliked them?  I'm curious if we share opinions.  Not gonna lie, there are a few on that list that I really hated. Hint: it rhymes with Bride & Breadjudice and Bombies.

Lust, Caution

Well, much to my pleasure, life is looking very Dr. Zhivago's Ice Dacha.  Wind-blown and snow-swept.  And under 14 inches of snow, Carrick has reminded me: be careful what I lust for.

Arabella Strange

Don't you love when you find a piece of work from one of your favorite artists that you seemingly thought you knew everything about, yet have never seen before?  This just happened to me with Kay Nielsen, a master from the Golden Age of Illustration.  I've been scouring all my books about him, but alas! have found nothing.  It came from a Tumblr, so there's even less evidence there..

Can anyone tell me which story this glorious illustration belongs to?

(Those of you who've read 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell' will recognize my reference)

Jane Wildgoose

A glimpse into the home of Jane Wildgoose, scanned from a November 2006 'World of Interiors', found at Hello Mr. Fox.  If your interest is piqued as mine was, read more about her HERE.  Fascinating lady busy doing brilliant things like recreating the spirit of Miss Havisham...

Snow lust

While I fester here in New England, where nary a snow accumulation has occured -a rarity- England is getting heaps and heaps!  I have posted about Ben Pentreath's stunning blog before, but his latest photographs are just too gorgeous to pass over.

I wish I may, I wish I might, I wish to be on Lamb's Conduit Street tonight

If you want to know how I'd like my apartment to look...look no further.  And how!

Travails at the Tailor's

After a lunch with my dear friend, Mark Ogilvie-Grant, at the Savoy, I mentioned I was en route to a tailor.  When Mark asked which one I frequent, I was unable to answer.  "Mr. Taylor's," I invented.

"Nonsense, he doesn't exist. I know every tailor in London.  Your Mr. Taylor is imaginary."

After accepting defeat, he steered me toward his own on Saville Row.  In the shop we moaned and groaned about not finding the right shape, fit or color.  This one will make you look short.  This one will drown you.  This cashmere will accentuate your gin blossoms.

"Your rather boyish shoulders are difficult to fit, Sir," piped in the tailor.

"Thank you," I curtly replied, cursing my mother's thin-shouldered Irish heritage under my breath. 

Then, like a gleam from the Heavens, was a men's journal on the work table held open by a French curve.  Under said curve lay a gorgeous J.D. Leyendecker illustration.  The Beltsac. "This, this will do."

"Quite right, Sir, will it be double or single-breasted?"

Illustration: NYPL

Non parlo l'italiano bene

I wonder what Pier Paolo Pasolini and Fellini are talking about here?  Something amazingly surrealist, no doubt.  I hope my Italian will be good enough to understand them, in case I chance upon them in my imaginary world.

fotografia: elena muti

Lillian Gish

Lillian Gish: silent film star in myriads of films.  But more importantly: an exact doppelganger for my mother, Donna Mary.  I must post her nursing school picture for proof!  'Whales of August' gives me a sneak peak of what to look forward to.

Life According to Literature: 2010

photograph by Herbert List, 1952

This year was the first year I wrote down which books I read and my how they added up!  (Note to self: Must get out more).  I will be posting the list as our year ends, but for the time being Simon, from Stuck In A Book, posted THIS on his blog full of wonderful and interesting treats.  Now I want a whack at it!  

Answer the following questions using titles of books you have read during 2010:

Describe yourself: Twenty-five (Beverley Nichols)

How do you feel: All Passion Spent (Vita Sackville-West)

Describe where you currently live: Dream of Perpetual Motion (Dexter Palmer)

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Down the Garden Path (Beverley Nichols)

Your favorite form of transportation: Free for All (Don Borchert)

Your best friend is: Nancy Mitford (Harold Acton)

You and your friends are: Bright Young People (DJ Taylor)

What's the weather like: West with the Night (Beryl Markham)

You fear: The Little Stranger (Sarah Waters)

What is the best advice you have to give: Ask Alice (DJ Taylor)

Thought for the day: Strait is the Gate (Andre Gide)

How I would like to die: From a Paris Garret (Richard Le Gallienne)

My soul's present condition: Our Lady of the Flowers (Jean Genet)

Love in a Cold Climate

What bliss!  That bridge reminds me of the bridge in Brief Encounter which I saw this weekend for the first time and fell madly in love with.  The tension..egads!

Snake Pass, Derbyshire, England

by Andrew Kearton

via Once was England

Conrad Felixmüller

Bildnis Frau Sophie Isakowitz, 1932

Don't you love when you stumble upon something when you are looking for something else entirely!  Look at these gems, by German Expressionist and mentor of Otto Dix, Conrad Felixmüller, I just found!  One could work as a Persephone cover.

Self-portrait (with his wife), 1930

Zeitungsjunge (Newspaper Boy), 1928

There's a pattern in my preference in art.  Someday, in my dream world, these will be a few of what has become a massive collection.  Now let us head to the third floor gallery, shall we?

Lorna von dem Spiegel, 1933

Shanghai Lil'

From, Footlight Parade, one of the best and my favorite Busby Berkeley skits, stars Ruby Keeler (per usual) and the amazing James Cagney. Their dancing is unbelievable, and the opium den scene is positively shocking!  Hysterically clever lyrics as well.  Unfortunately the clip is only available when you wander HERE, but please do!

Dreams of a Winter Night

‘The dreams of a young girl the night before her coming out party inhabit these empty bedrooms at Belsay Hall. Longing for love and romance, her childhood world dissolves into social connections, potential husbands and family obligations.’

So said Geraldine Pilgrim of her exhibition at Belsay Hall, something I wish I had seen.  For a few more photographs and information: the artist's webpage.

Photographs by Sukesu found at Miss Wallflower

Far From the Maddening World

Just try, just try and not fall in love with this man's photostream over at flickr.  I just found it and am loving his little tidbits of life in the West Village, his books and collections.

Travelling with Persephone

A few weeks back a friend asked: "Where do you have in mind for you next trip?"  and for the first time in my life it took a few minutes to think of something.  I've always been one who's had a roster of 10 or 12 places on my 'To Visit' list, and not that I've been to them all, but I think life has become so hectic and busy, I don't have time to think of where I want to holiday. 



Thankfully I seem to be catching the travel bug, especially after reading several Anglo-leaning blogs, and my next trip MUST be England.  My bosom friend, Saint Katherine, finds herself with similar leanings so hopefully we can plan a trip together.

Upon arriving in London, Lamb's Conduit Street will be first on the list of places to stop.  At Persephone I'll ship everything in stock home, to fill my nonexistent bookshelves, like Thomas.

Then I'll skip over to Heywood Hill, where my best friend, Nancy Mitford, ran the shop for a bit.  While I'm at it, I'll let that little garret on the top floor so I can see London to its full extent.

Now the country is my oyster, and after meeting all of you fellow bloggers, I'll be exploring all the places I've never seen and always wanted to. Hopefully I'll be able to tackle every secondhand bookstore and resale shop in my line of vision as wekk. I remember them being tear-worthy.  Knitting whilst travelling of course.  One needs to make socks for all the nippers I abandoned back home!

On the list, Sissinghurst, Charleston and Chatsworth.  Everytime I read a post about either of these places my mouth starts to water and I start to feel faint.  The salts!  Grab the salts!

Vita's desk at Sissinghurst

The trip just flew by!  Where did that year go?  Might as well end the trip at the place I've been dreaming of since I read Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, all those years ago.  Yorkshire! A castle will do,  there I can stay close to the fire, read and drink tea 'till my chest starts to pound.

All images found at the ever-inspiring, always fascinating, Persephone Post.