Last week, Mr Gums and I drove back from Melbourne where we had spent the holiday season with family. Having spent over two weeks in the city - very lovely because we saw family - I did want a little country respite before hitting our own (much smaller, admittedly) city. Bright, in Victoria's Alpine Shire … Continue reading What would you recommend?
Travel
Friedrich Gerstäcker, Australia: A German traveller in the Age of Gold (Review)
Friedrich Gerstäcker's Australia: A German traveller in the Age of Gold was first published in its original German, as Australien, in 1854. Gerstäcker did prepare, at that time, an English language version of his travels, but the section on Australia, at least, was much shorter than his German edition, and is all English readers have been able to … Continue reading Friedrich Gerstäcker, Australia: A German traveller in the Age of Gold (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: 19th century travellers in Australia
I'm a bit of a sucker for 19th century travellers. The one who started it all was Flora Tristan with her Peregrinations of a pariah (1838). Yes, I know, she was a Frenchwoman travelling in South America, so she's not actually relevant here. And yet, before I get to travellers in Australia I must mention other works I've dipped into: Washington … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 19th century travellers in Australia
Do you consult consumer reviews?
I am not one of those who in expressing opinions confine themselves to facts. (Mark Twain, Wearing White Clothes speech, 1907) In asking this question about consulting consumer reviews, I'm talking not only about those for books (such as on GoodReads and Amazon), but for restaurants, hotels, and all sorts of other things like clothes and … Continue reading Do you consult consumer reviews?
On the literary road … in Melbourne and thereabouts
Once again we are visiting our first-born in Melbourne and taking the opportunity to visit places we haven't yet explored in this city and state. I've managed on this trip to tick off a few more "bucket list" items. Captain Cook's cottage in Fitzroy Gardens. I first learnt of this cottage in my childhood when my … Continue reading On the literary road … in Melbourne and thereabouts
The meeting of art and literature, at the Singapore Art Museum
Mr Gums and I have had a busy few months, with, unusually for us, two overseas trips in less than four months. Both were family-inspired: Canada in April-May to visit our daughter, and then last week Koh Samui to help Mr Gums' sister and husband celebrate their 40th anniversary. We decided to spend a few days … Continue reading The meeting of art and literature, at the Singapore Art Museum
On the literary road, in Ontario
I'm back from my North American trip and, as you can tell, didn't find much time to post while I was there. It was a packed three and a half weeks, catching up with our daughter, sightseeing, and meeting people, many of whom I'd got to know via online reading groups. I didn't find much … Continue reading On the literary road, in Ontario
Canada’s Group of Seven
You've seen me write about Canberra's Seven Writers, a group of seven women who got together to share their writing and support each other. All of them published well-received books - novels, short stories, poetry. Well, I was amused - I'm easily amused - to discover the other day as we explored the Art Gallery … Continue reading Canada’s Group of Seven
Preparing to visit friends, Jane Austen style
One of the things we learn through Jane Austen's letters - and indeed through her novels - is how much visiting and travelling people did in the early eighteenth century. They travelled to stay with or help out friends and family; they travelled for health purposes (such as to take the Waters at Bath); they … Continue reading Preparing to visit friends, Jane Austen style
Delicious descriptions from Down under: Murray Bail on composers’ houses
During our recent trip to Europe we managed to follow the trails of a few composers*. We saw statues of JS Bach, CPE Bach, Felix Mendelssohn and Ludwig van Beethoven. We visited Eisenach, where Bach was born and saw the church where he was baptised. We visited Leipzig, where he worked for 27 years and … Continue reading Delicious descriptions from Down under: Murray Bail on composers’ houses
Whispering Gums 