Wednesday, January 21, 2026

All my old diaries

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‘Yesterday I felt like burning all my old diaries. I spoke about it to two people, a writer and a photographer. Each replied to this effect:...
Sunday, January 18, 2026

Something of myself

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The English writer Rudyard Kipling, who died 80 years ago today, left behind a treasure of much-loved stories and poems, such as The Jungle ...
Saturday, January 17, 2026

Founding Father Franklin

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Today marks the 320th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin. From humble origins, he not only became a very wealthy businessmen, but...
Wednesday, January 14, 2026

I’m looking at dying

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Harold Frederick Shipman, one of the most prolific serial killers in modern times, would have turned 80 today had he not committed suicide i...
Sunday, December 21, 2025

Speaking of The Possessed

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‘To London, mainly for another Prime Minister’s dinner party [. . .] I continue to find Mrs Thatcher very attractive physically. Her overhan...
Friday, December 12, 2025

Life and fate

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‘Stalingrad is burned down. I would have to write too much if I wanted to describe it. Stalingrad is burned down. Stalingrad is in ashes. It...
Thursday, December 4, 2025

Art but no artists

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René  Maria Rilke, one of the most intense of German-language poets and considered by some to be a founder of modernist poetry, was born 150...
Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Robertson Davies as diarist

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‘Bouts of sinus, headache, nausea, and cold sweats have left me unwell for the day. Brenda and I lay on sofas and read. Went for short walk....