Monday 12 February 2018



I'm enjoying this lovely book; I wouldn't say that it's as readable as Tirzah Garwood's charming autobiography, but the illustrations are a delight and a happy reminder of that wonderful exhibition at Eastbourne last year. (If you missed it, it's transferring soon to Compton Verney which would make a lovely spring day out.)

Helen Binyon and Eric Ravilious at Furlongs, 1940s, Peggy Angus
Apparently, Virginia Woolf would often pass within five yards of the kitchen door at Furlongs as she cycled to see her sister at Charleston - but the social gulf between Bloomsbury and the primitive cottage with earth floors and earth closet was too wide for her ever to have stopped for a cup of tea.
What a shame ... Tea at Furlongs seems so delightful, although no doubt the table was laid and cups were washed-up grudgingly by the women artists while the men got on with becoming more famous.

Tea at Furlongs, Eric Ravilious, 1939

6 comments:

Lucille said...

I'm not getting on very well with Long Live Great Bardfield. There's something rather bloodless about Tirzah's voice. Everybody seems to be judged on their appearance.
Anjelica Huston is having a similar effect on me. Perhaps a mistake to be reading the two in tandem.

mary said...

I wanted her to stop being so self-effacing and kick up a row when Eric misbehaved, Lucille.

mary said...

What a shame you can't remember, Sue! Did you see the Peggy Angus exhibition a couple of years ago? I didn't, and kicked myself later.

Vronni's Style Meanderings said...

Ravilious illustrations? Yes please!

I did enjoy 'Long Live Great Bardfield' but like you wanted Tirzah to call Eric to account or give him a good kick where it hurts...

Mary said...

I know it was another era, Veronica, but sometimes you can't blame men for trying it on when women are such drips!

Lucille said...

Anjelica Huston is being similarly accepting of Jack Nicholson's infidelties.