I've devoured this novel at least three times, the most recent being just a few months back, yet I find myself compelled to dive into its pages once more. There's something about it that clings like a cheap raincoat, gnawing at me insistently, making it impossible to resist another read. Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary stands … Continue reading The Fatal Allure of Fantasy: Madam Bovary
The Sorrows of Satan: A Fiendishly Fun Foray into Faustian Folly
Apologies for the glaringly obvious alliteration in the title of this post; I couldn't resist. Marie Corelli’s The Sorrows of Satan is a literary paradox: a work so earnestly didactic that it wraps around to become almost devilishly entertaining. First published in 1895, this novel treads the murky waters of morality with the finesse of … Continue reading The Sorrows of Satan: A Fiendishly Fun Foray into Faustian Folly
Shy Peasant
I find a deep resonance with the figure in this portrait; he embodies my own inner turmoil. He stands as the very essence of the sorrowful introvert, contentedly secluded from a world that has granted him nothing but relentless adversity. His eyes, brimming with profound pathos, tell a story of enduring pain and sadness. If … Continue reading Shy Peasant
Germinal
Émile Zola’s Germinal, published in 1885, is a hefty tome that plunges readers into the sooty, grimy world of French coal miners in the 19th century. With its bleak depictions of class struggle, social injustice, and the human spirit’s tenacity, it’s hardly the kind of book you’d expect to read at a comedy club. Yet, … Continue reading Germinal
‘Tis Better To Have Loved…
I've delved into the works of Tennyson, and each time, I'm reminded of that weary adage people parrot without recognising its origin. It's worth noting that Tennyson penned the lines I refer to below in the throes of his own grief, and I can certainly respect the depth of emotion behind them. However, there is … Continue reading ‘Tis Better To Have Loved…
Wording 