Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Beautiful Books
Into my sticky and avaricious paws have come beautiful copies of Nancy Mitford's The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate. They've been "borrowed" from my father but I like to think that they've come here to stay forever. They're 1992 Folio Society editions and they're so pretty that I thought I'd share. The illustrations are by Roland Pym.
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8 comments:
This is the first time I've seen you blog and after seeing those lovely Folio editions of Nancy Mitford's books have now ordered some 2nd hand Folio copies from www.abebooks.co.uk ... as if I need more books, a'hem!
But congratulations on a lovely blogsite.
Margaret Powling
Just a PS to my earlier comment:
re Roland Pym, illustrator of the Nancy Mitford books just mentioned:
At Buckland Abbey in Devon, one-time Cistercian Monastery and later the home of Sir Francis Drake, there is the Pym Gallery which is named after a series of four murals (by Roland Pym) specially commissioned for Buckland Abbey by Lord and Lady Astor as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations in 1951. Two of the murals represent the battle against the Armada in July 1855; a third shows Sir Francis Drake in the course of his voyage around the world between 1577 and 1580; and the last shows Drake's ship, The Golden Hind.
Margaret Powling
Thank you for dropping in. I don't blame you for buying copies and I would myself if I wasn't so sure that I can get away with a permanent "borrowing" of these two. They are absolutely lovely editions and Roland Pym's illustrations really make them for me. Thank you for letting me know about the murals - the Tamar Valley is on my "to visit one day" list and I'll make sure I visit Buckland Abbey to see them.
I've been browsing a few blogs this morning rather than getting on with work (both housework and writing) as I made a comment on someone's blog about writer Mary Wesley, and now I can't think where I left the comment! I wonder whether this happens to other people? Leaving comments like umbrellas, and then not knowing where you've left them!
Yes, Buckland Abbey worth a visit but it's not the most attractive building, although historical of course. If you come to Devon then I'd put Castle Drogo, Coleton Fishacre and Exeter Cathedral on the "to see" list. Drogo was built at the turn of the 19th/20th century to a design by Sir Edwin Lutyens, so it's not exactly a castle but built in the style of a castle for the wealthy Julius Drewe who was so rich he was able to retire in his early 30s; Coleton Fishacre was designed by a pupil of Lutyens and was the weekend home of Rupert and Lady Dorothy D'Oyly Carte (of Gilbert & Sullivan fame) and is Arts & Crafts on the outside and Art Deco on the inside; Exeter Cathedral is a masterpiece of Decorated Gothic architecture, not the largest of the English cathedrals but one of the prettiest inside. As for gardens, then if you go to Buckland Abbey, then visit the nearby Garden House which is not actually a 'house' but a garden (although there are meals served there.) And for something quirky, then visit A La Ronde near Exmouth, a 16-sided house filled with treasures which two female Parminter cousins brought back from their Grand Toud in the early 19th century.
My lovely Folio editions of these two books have just arrived and I'm delighted with them! Thank you for drawing my attention to these two lovely books!
Margaret P
Those covers are wonderful, and capture the spirit of the books so well. I do love Folio editions, even if I can't afford them!
Dear Odford-reader,
Folio are expensive when purchased brand new. However, there are Folio copies to he had second-hand via website like www.abebooks.co.uk It is from Abe that I purchased these two lovely Folio editions and they were about the cost of new paperbacks.
Sorry about the very belated reply but I've been away for a few days staying with my brother!
Galant - Thank you for the information about visiting Devon. So many tempting places to see and if only I had holiday time coming up! I'm so glad that your copies of the books have arrived and that you are pleased with them. I was starting to doubt that they are as nice as I thought they were and hoped you'd not be disappointed.
Oxford-Reader - I can't afford new ones either but I do like to keep an eye out in second hand bookshops /eBay for bargains!
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