I really did declutter lots of mugs before retirement. And in the time since, if 'favourite' have got chipped or lost their handles, they have become flowerpot holders. But when I was in London with Liz a fortnight ago, I succumbed to a pair ion a charity shop. Two for £1 seemed a bargain, and I have always been fond of these 'Penguin bookcovers'
But I had no idea who the two authors were. Norman Douglas was a travel writer. 'Together' is apparently a short book about Austria after WW1. Online reviews refer to "old-fashioned opinions", "petrified leaves and grasses" and "on the could-not-finish shelf" He does not sound a very nice guy by all accounts. John Sutherland wrote that his travel writing 'chimed with public taste' - but that his smartness lay in the fact that 'for the whole of his depraved life, he stayed one jump ahead of the law'Ludwig Bemelman's Hotel 'Splendide' is a collection of anecdotes based on a fictional New York hotel. It is nothing to do with the 2000 Gross Film starring Daniel Craig. Bemelman is possibly better known for his children's books about a French girl called Madeline [celebrated last year in an exhibition by Sotheby's New York] Each book begins...
In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines"Ludwig wrote 6 books, and his grandson wrote a further 6. I do remember borrowing one of them from the library to read to Liz [or was it Steph?] back in the 80s.
Whatever the authors were like, I am very pleased with my two Penguin Mugs [now to seek out a green or orange one in a CS somewhere...]
Glad you bought yourself some new mugs. I used to read the Madeline books to my daughter. :)
ReplyDeleteI think children enjoy stories in rhyming couplets. It is easier for them to join in.
ReplyDeleteThe Madeline books were very popular in libraries through the 70's but not sure I ever read one to the children.
ReplyDeleteI only remember seeing ONE of them that was in the little library round the corner.
DeleteI remember Madeline! We used to visit a very ancient and rather terrifying lady when we stayed with my grandmother; they lived in the same small village. She used to let us read Madeline books while they chatted.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great memory.
DeleteMy daughter adored Madeleine and wanted to be just like her!
ReplyDeleteOh how sweet. One of my girls aspired to be like Anne of Green Gables.
DeleteDid you ever see the TV film about Elisabeth David A life in recipes 2006? Norman Douglas (played by Karl Johnson) appears as an elderly friend she meets while abroad, who encourages her to be her own woman (ie unconventional). So in some ways, we have him to thank for her food writing!
ReplyDeleteThank you, this is something I did not know. I will try to find out more about the film.
DeleteI love the book cover memorabilia too! I bought a box of Penguin front cover postcards in TK Maxx and can't bear ro actually send them!
ReplyDeleteI love the 'Penguin Book' mugs although don't have any, my sister in law does and I do look at them rather enviously!!
ReplyDeleteJarrolds Coffee Shop in Norwich is next to the boom dept, and they have Penguin bookcover wallpaper
ReplyDeleteWhat interesting mugs. The only time I ever buy mugs is from a charity shop if I happen to see something that takes my fancy, and then I sometimes have to get rid of another one or two to make room in the cupboard!
ReplyDeleteI need to be more diligent about one-in-one-out!
Delete