Eclectic pleasures

The Historical Writers’ Forum has got a real treat for you over the next few weeks, an interview every couple of days of a character from a novel! (Wimer is in there too, later.)

The process kicks off today; author Jen Black interviews Christine Hancock‘s youthful and courageous ealdorman, Byrhtnoth, of the Bright Axe and Bright Sword books. https://jenblackauthor.blogspot.com/2019/06/come-and-meet-byrhtnoth.html

Many more to come over the summer!

On Friday I treated myself to a visit to the British Library’s Anglo-Saxon Exhibition. If you’re in a position to go, I’d urge you to – it’s spectacular.

One of the more jaw-dropping items is the Alfred Jewel, on loan from the Ashmolean (https://www.ashmolean.org/alfred-jewel). Now I’ve visited this wonderful object many times; but for the first time on Friday I wrenched my eyes away from the striking image, the marvellous crystal, the sheer astonishment of the pierced instription running around the sides – and looked at the business end, where the pointer would have fitted.

This is the classic view, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, source Dresses and Decorations of the Middle Ages, by Henry Shaw, 1843. Isn’t it gorgeous?

But the pointer end isn’t anything particularly amazing.

Now look at this photo, which is how close a look you can get at the exhibition. (This from a user called Richard’s Flickr feed, marked for non-commercial reuse. Thank you Richard! – https://www.flickr.com/photos/tortipede/5874079689)

What does it look like to you – a boar? A bear? Scroll back up and look at the left-hand picture, showing the top of its head; maybe a great cat? The Ashmolean sometimes calls it a dragon. Not your usual Christian icon, in this sumptuous jewel comissioned by a deeply Christian King. Alfred’s passion was the translation of religious texts into Anglo-Saxon from Latin, and the British Library’s exhibition holds manuscripts which might be his translation and written in his hand (another shiver-up-the-spine moment!).

The speculation is that the jewel was one of many pointers made to accompany such a text and sent as a gift alongside the book. That kingly assocation would explain its richness and beauty – but certainly not its iconography; it simply makes it more of a puzzle. Until, perhaps, you consider who the recipients of such a gift might be – possibly missionaries going out into the perilous wild lands of 9thC Britain, with the Danelaw all up the Eastern side of the country, and tribes not acknowledging Alfred’s rule to the North and West of him.

I’ve been lucky enough to handle several Iron Age coins in silver and gold, and that’s the strongest association I have – that this Christian jewel is also using the power, imagery, and deep, deep roots of the Celtic world to get its message across.

Magical! Do you agree?

Just for a bit of fun, I thought I’d have a go at interviewing other authors. Richard Stephenson Clarke’s beautiful book of shaped poety – Presents of Mind – launched last month, and he’s agreed to be my first victim!

I’ve decided to go with a riff on Desert Island Discs – interviewees get to choose 5 music tracks and answer 5 or 6 vaguely literature-related questions, and choose one book and one luxury item to take to their island. As always, they get the Bible and the Complete Works of Shakespeare thrown in.

Me: So, Richard – the important things first; what’s your favourite writing food?

Richard: Oh, cake! Coffee and walnut, preferably.

Me: Good choice! And drink?

Richard: Hmmm. Vintage port… or coffee. Black, no sugar, please.

Me: Is there a coffee-related theme building here? Perhaps we should move on to the music. What’s your first track?

Richard: This is terribly difficult, you know!  it’s like being asked to choose which is your favourite child! Let’s start with the 3rd movement of Beethoven’s Archduke trio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWvzU8erM04

Me: Lovely! I hate to lower the tone – but what’s your favourite TV show?

Richard: Ah, that’s easy! The Big Bang Theory!

Me: No thought required on that one! And your next track?

Richard: How about anything by Supertramp?

Me: Coming right up! Here’s a “Best of” compilation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsV-rQ23bus&list=PLi-Y73aIHeoO902R5v6kw7TdkGPxYANEO

Me: Let’s get back on books – what’s your favourite book ever?

Richard: Anything by PG Wodehouse! I could read those till the cows come home.

Me: And some music to go with that?

Richard: Let’s have Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock. Ideally with Dame Janet Baker, if possible.

Me: I couldn’t find a recording with Janet Baker. Here’s Beverley Sills singing soprano instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgGHfT21uOI

Richard: Oh yes, that’ll do!

Me: Now, what’s the last book you read?

Richard: I’m just finishing The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil.

Me: That’s a war book, isn’t it? What music would you like to follow it with?

Richard: Hahn’s L’Heure Exquise; I like the Julian Lloyd Webber recording. It’s just such a wonderful evocation of moonlight. The book is about Clementine’s journey through the displacement & horror of war, and I think music like L’Heure Exquise speaks of enduring hope, peace & beauty that transforms the dark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOxuwOs4h-k

Me: That is gorgeous. All right, nearly at the end. You can choose one book to take with you to your desert island – what will it be?

Richard: Something silly like The Adventures of Asterix, please. I’d need a good laugh on a desert island!

Me: – good choice! And your luxury?

Richard: A really good Hi-Fi system, please – and my music collection!

Me: All of it? Oh, all right! What would you like to play us out with?

Richard: Anything from the countertenor Philippe Jaroussky – he has the most amazing voice!

Me: Super! One of my favourite artists too. Would you mind if we had one of my favourites? Vivaldi’s Stabat Mater.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL0rT09hVFg

Thank you, Richard – I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your choices!

Presents of Mind is a collection of shaped poetry: reflections on psychotherapy and the creative energy and healing power of the mind, in a tapestry of metaphors and forms. It is written for anyone who finds life a challenge, for clients and students of therapy, for counsellors, psychotherapists, and others concerned with mental health.

Presents of Mind is available as an A4, full-colour paperback from Etsy

Or as an e-book from Amazon UK or Amazon US

Richard discusses the book, its imagery, and his process on his blog.

I just wanted to share this pretty new cover my lovely artist daughter has done for me, adding the awards that Wimer has won 🙂