Tag Archives for Boris Johnson
And A Happy New Year To You Too, Enver Hoxha
Tweet At this time, I always like to relay Enver Hoxha’s encouraging words to the Albanian people on New Year’s Day 1967 (as rendered by the English service of Radio Tirana). “This year will be harder than last year. However, … Continue reading
Rubato Reviewed
Tweet From the Balliol College Annual Record 2021 The Prisoner of Rubato Towers: Crazed Memories of Lockdown Life in the Plague Year Richard K. Heller (1966), Xerus Publishing, 2020 Seamus Perry (Professor of English Literature, Massey Fellow, and Tutor in … Continue reading
My new book: The Prisoner Of Rubato Towers
Tweet Xerus Publishing publishes The Prisoner Of Rubato Towers – Richard Heller’s crazed memories of lockdown life in the plague year. Publication date 21 September Price £6.99 ISBN 978-1-8381654-0-6 Distribution: Vine House Distribution Ltd www.vinehouseuk.co.uk • Nobel Literature prize judges re-convene … Continue reading
Poor Swift (from my lockdown diary for 28 May)
Tweet In my distant schooldays I read Jonathan Swift for English A Level. I read him again intermittently for pleasure and possible literary larceny, since he is of course out of copyright. Then and now, I would sometimes have to … Continue reading
John Donne anticipates the UK election results declared on St Lucy’s Day
Tweet ‘Tis the year’s midnight, and it is the day’s, Lucy’s, who scarce seven hours herself unmasks; The sun is spent, and now his flasks Send forth light squibs, no constant rays; The world’s whole sap is sunk; The general … Continue reading
Boris Johnson through the lens of Alexander Pope
Tweet Oh! could I mount on the Maeonian wing, Your arms, your actions, your repose to sing! What seas you traversed, and what fields you fought! Your country’s peace, how oft, how dearly bought! How barb’rous rage subsided at your … Continue reading
