In the end, they decided she was innocent — and that was all she was ever allowed to be. I’ve always felt that Daisy Miller is less a story about impropriety than about cowardice. Not Daisy’s — heaven forbid — but ours. Ours as readers, as observers, as members of those polite little tribunals that … Continue reading Not Bad: A Epitaph for Daisy Miller
Tag: italy
The Devil in the Duomo: Reflections on the Monster of Florence
They say every paradise has a pit beneath it. Florence, for me, has always shimmered like a painted heaven — that impossible marriage between reason and rapture. As a child, I was bewitched by her domes and frescoes, the polished glow of Botticelli’s Venus, and the ghostly gaze of Savonarola who once tried to burn … Continue reading The Devil in the Duomo: Reflections on the Monster of Florence
An Irreverent Dive into Stendhal’s The Charterhouse of Parma
Stendhal’s The Charterhouse of Parma is an enduring classic of literature, often praised for its deep psychological insight, political intrigue, and richly detailed narrative. But let’s face it: wading through 19th-century novels can sometimes feel like being asked to appreciate the intricacies of tax law or to find the “fun” in a board meeting. Therefore, let us … Continue reading An Irreverent Dive into Stendhal’s The Charterhouse of Parma
The Decameron – Giovanni Boccaccio
A few moons ago, studying the Art History element of my degree, I came across an illustration on the side of a cassone in the National Gallery in Edinburgh; I was fascinated, especially as this particular one had an image which related to the title of this post. Cassone is an Italian term for a … Continue reading The Decameron – Giovanni Boccaccio
Wording 