Valentine, Mark - Thunderstorm Collectors
Adventures in browsing. Finding treasure in the untidy and less dusted stacks. Internet bookselling has, regrettably, eliminated many chance finds.
“Our Mortal Longing” is a concise evaluation of Walter de la Mare, not of the man, but a guide to reading his works. Understanding his point of view and methods. Compare / contrast with similar authors.
“Devilled Almonds And Doomed Boys” unearths several of the more adventurous poets of the 1920’s – perhaps the last decade before poetry became marginalized. And the poets he explores are heady youths, indeed.
“Arthur Machen And The Mysteries Of The Grail” is fascinating reading for historians of the relic, yet irresistible for fans of the writer. His speculations of “the cup”, theories on what it actually is. For Machen readers, this is compelling, and I hope it is reprinted elsewhere.
Machen’s last spurt of fiction writing is discussed in “It Is Getting Very Late & Dark.”
In ”A Landscape Detective” wanders through bygone travel guides, particularly those traipsing the less frequented regions. As with many older guidebooks, there is a poignant melancholy for sites and places passing away, as well as those already vanished.
“Lost Sovereigns” notes several claimants to the throne. Eccentrics, fools or … perhaps … who knows?