(I originally visited Paris in 2013 and put up a post about Oscar Wilde's tomb. Recently I found some more literary-related photos from my trip and thought I'd add them in with a bit more content - enjoy!) Oscar Wilde's Tomb, Pere Lachaise Cemetery Pere Lachaise Cemetery was built in 1804 and is the largest... Continue Reading →
George Orwell is arguably the father of modern dystopian fiction. A lot of terms we use in everyday life (perhaps more frequently than we'd like in recent years) come from his most famous work "Nineteen Eighty-Four". "Big Brother", "Room 101", "Thought Police" all come from his nightmarish vision of what was then the future, now... Continue Reading →
If you're looking for a top class castle ruin, look no further than the dramatic Corfe Castle. Perched above the small town of Corfe in Dorset, it's a popular tourist destination (if you plan to visit, be aware that it will get busy), managed by the National Trust. And as the post title alludes to,... Continue Reading →
There's a definite other-worldly feeling to Winspit Quarry, cut into the edge of the tempestuous Dorset coast. Fittingly then the place has been used as a filming location for two classic British sci-fi series, Blakes 7 and Dr Who. The quarry was used as the location for the planet Mecron II in the Blake's 7... Continue Reading →
November 1943. WWII raged across Europe. In the small village of Tyneham, Dorset, the 225 residents were told they had 28 days to leave their homes. The army was commandeering the area for military use. The inhabitants left their homes believing they would be able to return once the war was over. But they never... Continue Reading →
I first encountered Jacek Yerka's work via a blog I frequent and as soon as I did, I knew I'd found something special. I've never studied art so I can't use fancy terms to explain what it means or why I like it, but I do find certain art works and artists inspiring. Needless to... Continue Reading →
Obviously we're not be able to visit some places in London at the moment. But once we can, you may be interested in trying some more unusual (and less busy) ideas. Unsurprisingly, some of these have a literary connection, and some are perfect for a bit of creative inspiration. So read on for five things... Continue Reading →
Is Watership Down a children's book? It's significantly darker than most books aimed at kids, especially ones where the central characters are bunnies. But whether you read the book or were simply traumatised by the 1978 film, Richard Adam's 1972 book has left an indelible mark and is widely considered a classic. Watership Down itself... Continue Reading →
(Pre-lockdown visit m'kay) This will probably come as a surprise to absolutely no-one, but my favourite part of any big, old house is the library. Frankly, a grand house without a library is just a waste of time. Stourhead in Wiltshire contains one of my favourite grand house libraries. It's a gorgeously light and airy... Continue Reading →
(Visited before current events obviously)Henry VIII is an enduring source of fascination for many. His story has enough murder, betrayal, plotting, war, and plague for several Shakespeare plays. In fact, Tudor times, in general, were extremely turbulent - perfect fodder for writers! If you're writing anything set in this particular period of history it might... Continue Reading →
