Read some fab books recently I feel I must share with you, viz: IN SEARCH OF CIVILISATION — Humane, tolerant argument about how civilisation has been discredited by the horrors done in its name; and the concept of a civilised life

THE ART INSTINCT: Despite mistaken emphasis on heredity vs humanity, very interesting on what makes great art and what makes bad art, and why I draw blue landscapes. Good review here

THE EUROPEAN MIND 1680 -1715: ‘A very liberal-minded man and one of the finest figures in senior French academic circles, Paul Hazard died in Paris in 1944’ says my Pelican blurb. A salutory contrast to jargon-filled books that pretend intelligence by obfuscating. Engaging, learned history of the birth of Enlightenment thought, and excellent translation so the original must be even better.

 And here is chocolatebox picture of Malvern that I’m taking to their arts market this Saturday