Lovely Companions

'Tis the last rose of summer Left blooming alone; All her lovely companions Are faded and gone." ~Thomas More
I attended the Portland Rose Festival a few years ago, and came across this Tess Rose, named after Thomas Hardy's character, Tess Durbeyfield. Beautiful, and I love the book inspiration. Makes me long for spring!

Wilkie Collins

Wilkie Collins was an English Victorian writer who is often credited with beginning the mystery genre with books like, "The Woman In White," and "The Moonstone." Collins was a contemporary of Charles Dickens, and wrote serialized books for Dickens', "All the Year Round." He has often been unjustly overlooked, overshadowed, and simply forgotten, when it comes to the great English writers.

"The Woman In White" is one of my favorite books. There was a film based on it, starring Justine Waddell and Tara Fitzgerald, in 1997, but it hardly does the book justice.
Here is his Bibliography and films about his books, from Wikipedia:

Bibliography
* Iolani, or Tahiti as it was. A Romance (written 1844; published 1999)
* Memoirs of the Life of William Collins, Esq., R.A. (1848)
* Antonina (1850)
* Rambles Beyond Railways (1851)
* Basil (novel) (1852)
* Mr Wray's Cash Box (1852)
* Hide and Seek (1854)
* The Ostler (1855)
* After the Dark (1856)
* The Dead Secret (1857)
* A Rogue's Life (1857/1879)
* The Frozen Deep (1857), a play co-written with Charles Dickens
* A Terribly Strange Bed (1858)
* A House to Let (1858), a short story co-written with Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell and Adelaide Anne Procter
* The Haunted House a short story co-written with Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, Adelaide Proctor, George Sala and Hesba Stretton
* The Queen of Hearts (1859)
* The Woman in White (1860)
* No Name (1862)
* My Miscellanies (1863)
* Armadale (1866)
* No Thoroughfare (1867), a story and play co-written with Charles Dickens
* The Moonstone (1868)
* Man and Wife (1870)
* Poor Miss Finch (1872), dedicated to Frances Minto Elliot
* Miss or Mrs? (1873)
* The New Magdalen (1873)
* The Frozen Deep and Other Stories (1874)
o "The Frozen Deep"
o "Dream Woman"
o "John Jago's Ghost; or The Dead Alive"
* The Law and the Lady (1875)
* The Two Destinies (1876)
* The Haunted Hotel (1878)
* The Fallen Leaves (1879)
* My Lady's Money (1879)
* Jezebel's Daughter (1880)
* Who Killed Zebedee (1881)
* The Black Robe (1881)
* Heart and Science (1883)
* I Say No (1884)
* The Ghost's Touch and Other Stories (1885)
* The Evil Genius (1886)
* The Guilty River (1886)
* Little Novels (1887)
* The Legacy of Cain (1889)
* Blind Love (1889 - unfinished, completed by Walter Besant)

Films based on his novels
* Basil (UK 1998)
* The Woman in White (UK 1997)
* The Moonstone (UK 1996)
* Zhenshchina v belom (The Woman In White, Russia 1982)
* The Woman in White (UK, TV, 5 episodes, 1982)
* La donna in bianco (Italy, TV, 1980)
* Lucilla (Poor Miss Finch, Germany, 1979, 2 episodes, directed by Wilhelm Semmelroth)
* Der Monddiamant (The Moonstone, Germany 1974, 2 episodes, directed by Wilhelm Semmelroth)
* Great Mysteries (1 Episode: A Terribly Strange Bed, USA 1973)
* Der rote Schal (Armadale, 3 episodes, directed by Wilhelm Semmelroth)
* La pietra di luna (The Moonstone, Italy 1972)
* The Moonstone (UK, 5 episodes, 1972)
* Die Frau in Weiß (The Woman in White, 3 episodes, Germany 1971, directed by Wilhelm Semmelroth)
* The Policeman and the Cook (USA 1970)
* La femme en blanc (The Woman in White, France 1970)
* La dama vestida de blanco (The Woman in White, Spain 1967)
* The Woman in White (UK, 6 episodes, 1966)
* A Terribly Strange Bed (USA 1991)
* Dow Hour of Great Mysteries: The Woman in White (USA 1960)
* The Moonstone (UK, 7 episodes, 1959)
* Hour of Mystery: The Woman in White (UK 1957)
* Sergeant Cuff kann den Mondstein nicht finden (The Moonstone, Germany 1955)
* Suspense: The Moonstone (USA 1954)
* Tales Of Adventure: The Moonstone (USA 1952, 5 episodes)
* Robert Montgomery Presents: The Moonstone (USA 1952)
* Kvinna i vitt (The Woman in White, Sweden 1949)
* The Woman in White (USA 1948)
* Crimes at the Dark House (based on The Woman in White, USA 1940)
* The Moonstone (1934)
* The Woman in White (1929)
* She Loves and Lies (1920)
* The Twin Pawns (1919)
* The Woman in White (1917)
* Tangled Lives (1917)
* The Moonstone (1915)
* The Quest of the Sacred Jewel (1914)
* The New Magdalen (1914
* The Dream Woman (1914)
* The New Magdalen (1912)
* The Woman in White (1912)
* The New Magdalene (1910)

Guide To Rare and Old Book Values

This website allows you to check the value of your old books. Great resource!
Here is a little bit about how it works from their site.
"Research your old books. Perform your own antique book appraisals. Search Fadedgiant's online database of over 50,000 antique book prices. The world's largest free online database of old book values and the ONLY free online old book price guide with values determined by auction prices. Booksellers price your antique books realistically."

Cather's, and Alcott's, and Transcendentalists, Oh My!

Right now, I am having a slight purchasing obsession with the Alcott's/Transcendentalists/Thoreau. The obsession stemmed from watching the recent program "Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women," that showed on PBS. These are being lined up to follow the Willa Cather books that I'm currently reading. I tend to saturate a topic before I let it go, if I let it go!
Cather's, and Alcott's, and Bronte's, oh my !

Jane Campion's Bright Star

In celebration of Jane Campion's film Bright Star releasing on DVD tomorrow, I am posting every photo I have from the film - Enjoy!

The Art of Sulamith Wulfing

"Sulamith Wülfing (January 11, 1901 – 1989) was a German artist and illustrator. Her ethereal, enigmatic works depict fairy tales or mystical subjects."
(from Wikipedia)








About Sulamith Wulfing
Wikipedia
Art Prints

Erudite Paper Dolls

Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Baverstock (far right)


Emily Bronte by Elizabeth Baverstock (middle)


Jane Austen

If only these ladies could talk, what might they say!

How To Make Silhouettes
How To Make Victorian Silhouettes
The Silhouette Parlour (the photos of the Brontes are from this site)

For The Birds

Winter is for the birds

Photo at left, by Bob Mullen, Copyright 2007
Photo at right, by K. Young, Copyright 2009

Inspired by da Vinci

Recently, an exhibit of Leonardo da Vinci came to my city. It showed replicas of his famous paintings, and some of the things he invented. I love quick getaways like this that are inexpensive ways to treat yourself to something beautiful, lasting, and meaningful.




The movie "Ever After" features da Vinci as a character, inspired by Daniella to create this masterpiece, (fictitious, of course, but I still love it!)
From "Ever After," starring Drew Barrymore

"Head of a Young Woman" by da Vinci

More da Vinci drawings

Willa Cather...A Lady

My latest thrift find yesterday was a book by Willa Cather called, "A Lost Lady." Interesting, because I am currently reading "My Antonia," also by Cather. So it turns out that Plath is not my cup of tea, (too depressing), but rather Willa Cather is my first author read of the year. I plan on reading "Death Comes For The Archbishop" next, (I have always loved that title).



A listing of her novels (from Wikipedia):

* Alexander's Bridge (1912)
* "The Prairie Trilogy":
o O Pioneers! (1913)
o The Song of the Lark (1915)
o My Ántonia (1918)
* One of Ours (1922)
* A Lost Lady (1923)
* The Professor's House (1925)
* My Mortal Enemy (1926)
* Death Comes for the Archbishop (1927)
* Shadows on the Rock (1931)
* Lucy Gayheart (1935)
* Sapphira and the Slave Girl (1940)

Here are a few links about her:
Willa Cather Foundation
Willa Cather Archive
American Masters - buy it here
Willa Cather Page

I looked up "A Lost Lady" on IMDb, and indeed there is a film about it, actually two films, one starring Barbara Stanwick.

Here is a listing of films about her works (from IMDb):

# The Song of the Lark (2001) (TV) (novel)
# My Antonia (1995) (TV) (novel "My Antonia")
# Spring Awakening (1994) (TV) (short story "Resurrection")
# O Pioneers! (1992) (TV) (novel)
# O Pioneers! (1991) (TV) (novel)
# Jack-a-boy (1980) (story)
# Paul's Case (1980) (TV) (story)
# A Lost Lady (1934) (novel)
... aka Courageous (UK)
# A Lost Lady (1924) (novel)

Finally, here is a beautiful "book trailer" that someone has posted on youtube for "My Antonia," (pronounced Ann-toe-knee-a). Enjoy.

Well Worn, And Loved

I love old books. I love how they look on the shelf, well-worn and loved. They have a history, a story to tell, not only the one inside the cover, but outside as well - as they sit quietly upon the shelf.

They have passed through many hands, and countless eyes have perused their pages over the years. They have been a part of someone's life, spoken to them, been well regarded and cherished. Their words, pages, and binding all connect to the past - to the unseen and forgotten hands and eyes, now part of another world. But the old fingerprints remain, and I glance over the aged leaves - meeting the gaze from yesterday head on, and I wonder who treasured them before me, and who will after.

Warm Thoughts

Photo by Todd Gipstein

Fire is the most tolerable third party.
~Henry David Thoreau

One can enjoy a wood fire worthily only when he warms his thoughts by it as well as his hands and feet.
~Odell Shepherd

Each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
~Edgar Allan Poe

Do What You Can

The events in Haiti are haunting and incomprehensible. I am amazed and grateful for the things I have seen people doing...donating money, and giving their time and effort to help.

A day or two ago, I read about a singer/songwriter who put up one of his prized guitars for auction, and ended up raising $51,000 for Haiti. He raised the bar for me by making the effort of a personal sacrifice. I want to do more than I've already done...to make it personal for me, as well. I'm still not sure what form that will take for me, personally. I am not a singer and I don't have a first in a series guitar to donate, but I can give something.

I am digging deep inside myself to find out what it is that I can give. It might end up being a lot of small things. But, as Stevie Wonder said during the "Hope For Haiti Concert," "A whole lot of littles make a whole lot of lots," so I will do what I can.

Please consider joining this effort.

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UPDATE:
Now through June 1st all proceeds from my etsy shop will be donated to the Red Cross for haiti relief. Please consider looking, thank you!

A Man For All Seasons

Thomas More
If you know the anything about the Tudors, you will know of Sir Thomas More.






(from HBO's "The Tudors," Jeremy Northam as More)

Or maybe you know him from Utopia, a book he wrote.

The play "A Man For All Seasons" was based on his story.

Sir Thomas More stood up to a King, and not just any king, but King Henry the Eighth. Stood up for what he believed in,...and died for it.

To read about him:

Wikipedia
Luminarium
Sir Thomas More Website

I recommend this book by Peter Ackroyd called, "The Life of Thomas More."

A Room With A View

Window seats are desirable things. When we travel we want a window seat on the airplane - to watch the world go by at 30,000 feet. In the winter, we get cabin fever, and will hopefully sit and glance out the window, watching for the first sign of spring. When we ask for a table at a restaurant, we always want a window seat, if one is available. Even our beloved pets seek out the window view.Window seats are sentimental, charming, and romantic. They conjure up thoughts of Jane Eyre as a child, sneaking a few precious moments to herself behind a red curtained haven she created for herself, or of the Lady of Shalott in her tower, wishfully glancing out the window through her mirror.

Whether it's a window with a built in seat, or just a chair by a window, I hope you enjoy your view.



"I mounted into the window-seat: gathering up my feet, I sat cross-legged, like a Turk; and, having drawn the red moreen curtain nearly close, I was shrined in double retirement.

Folds of scarlet drapery shut in my view to the right hand; to the left were the clear panes of glass, protecting, but not separating me from the dreary November day. At intervals, while turning over the leaves of my book, I studied the aspect of that winter afternoon. Afar, it offered a pale blank of mist and cloud; near a scene of wet lawn and storm-beat shrub, with ceaseless rain sweeping away wildly before a long and lamentable blast."

~Jane Eyre - Chapter 1