A Wander With Georges Perec

What can Georges Perec see out of the window? He’s sat as usual in Café de la Mairie, 8 Place Saint-Sulpice in the 6th arrondissment, hunched at his favourite single table by the window. More importantly, he’s looking outside. Life in the Latin Quarter is passing by outside as always; it never really stops, merely lulls. On his small, plastic coated table, he has a … Continue reading A Wander With Georges Perec

Responses: Poems On Landscape And Melancholy (Volume 2)

Throughout 2017, I have continued with the responses form of article to works of art and other miscellanea.  Like last year, I found that a more interesting way to assess a piece of work was to not simply write an essay but to pair it with a poem; condensing the essence of the reading down into a basic selection of key notes, reactions and atmospheres.  … Continue reading Responses: Poems On Landscape And Melancholy (Volume 2)

2017 Review

Like last year, I have tried to keep up with enough new releases to eventually have something say at the end of the year.  And exactly like last year, I have virtually failed to see ten new releases that I’ve actually enjoyed.  I quietly accepted once again that, with some notable exceptions, new digital films are not especially for me and require a huge crossover … Continue reading 2017 Review

Fictions: Piccadilly Line “Corpse Rain” Phenomena

It came to light in a recent report released by Transport for London that the company had undertaken several investigations into certain disturbances occurring on a number of their main underground lines.  These disturbances have been felt by many commuters and several of my colleagues in the department confirm that the descriptions of events in the report are factual and not hearsay.  The concern surrounding … Continue reading Fictions: Piccadilly Line “Corpse Rain” Phenomena

Short Film: The Economy of the Dead

I’ve been going to Soho for a number of years now.  For various reasons it has always appealed; it’s filled with character, its cinema and bookshops are still staggeringly good, and it has without question the best pubs in London.  Now living in London, it seems that my previous visits from the north had spaced out my perception of an increasing disintegration of the area … Continue reading Short Film: The Economy of the Dead

Wanders: M.R. James’ Grave

On a rather muddled day in early autumn, I decided to visit M.R. James.  In recent years, I’ve become interested in the places that James frequented, usually because they have had clear and profound effects upon his ghost stories.  Visiting them with a sense of curiosity seems to invert the man’s clichés back upon him; walking in search of the known as opposed to the … Continue reading Wanders: M.R. James’ Grave

Fictions: A Forever-Moment Of Glass

“Serene, eternity waits at the crossroad of stars.” – Jorge Luis Borges The actress was due in the studio that morning.  She was a star and so every one of the assistants, hairdressers and make-up artists for the shoot were more nervous than usual.  This was not a regular star, so I thought, but someone genuinely important; a human vision of culture.  This was the reason why … Continue reading Fictions: A Forever-Moment Of Glass

Wanders: Angela Carter’s House

‘The notion that one day the red dawn will indeed break over Clapham,’ wrote Angela Carter in a letter to Lorna Sage, ‘is the one thing that keeps me going.’ From having read several of Carter’s works over the years, all of which have had a variety of profound effects upon my own writing, her relationship to London has since intrigued me. When first on the train down … Continue reading Wanders: Angela Carter’s House

Responses: Robert Aickman’s Holiday Photos

Note – Since the publication of this article, a publisher of Aickman’s has been in touch with more details surrounding the photographs.  They were taken by his friend Jean Richardson on a number trips taking place in the mid 1970s and not on one singular trip (as Aickman’s limited wardrobe falsely suggests).  The stone is King Doniert’s Stone in Cornwall whilst the coastline with the … Continue reading Responses: Robert Aickman’s Holiday Photos