The Magpie -
I mentioned my infatuation with Lou Andreas-Salome* in last week's Tarot of Songwriting. She was a disciple of Freud, one of the first female psychoanalysts, and a part-time lover/literary mentor to Rilke, among many others. For anyone interested in reading about her, I highly recommend Biddy Martin’s book Woman and Modernity, which covers all aspects of not only her work but also her inscrutable infamy. I was looking through one of my dog-eared copies (I have four, for fear of losing them), searching for the section related to the essays on Ibsen’s Women, which I referred to in my last post. In doing so, I was reminded why I have such an intense fascination with her: Salome navigated a male-dominated world without becoming either a victim or a muse. For whatever reason, I clung to this, which, given the progress made in my lifetime with which I can barely keep up, ages me.
It reminded me of a review of artist Celia Paul’s biography (which I also highly recommend) by Zadie Smith for the New York Review of Books. In memory (and as you may have noticed from previous posts, I reserve my right to utilise the feminine propensity for memorial flavour rather than fact), I recalled Smith warning the reader to resist the urge to go back in time and rescue muses from the fate of their time - re-reading it today, no such line exists. She does make reference to her dislike of a trend in the eighties for revesionist books about overlooked female muses. However, there are so many extraordinary translations she has extract from this wonderful book that I will just let them speak for themselves here below.
Celia Paul became romantically entwined with Lucian Freud while she was studing at the Slade. At 25 she fathered one of his (numerous) children. As Smith points out, she managed to navigate being mistaken as a muse and went on to have her own extraordinary career as an artist. It’s a wonderful book. For the record, I also love Lucian Freud. And obviously, Zadie Smith is life. I read this review after I read the book and found that it extended my enjoyment of it even further. I love it when smart people explain things to me.
Guitar Practice -
I have been clearing out my touring storage unit recently as I will have little need for it in the coming months (years?). For paid subscribers, I will be offering a few things (for below market price) that I’d like to be rid of. Some guitars, some audio equiptment, an amp or two. I love nothing more then getting rid of things. More on that soon.
One thing I’m in desporate need of is a rigid travel guitar case for my Martin M 36. When I tour, I take it in its original hard shell, but for light travel I’d like a more easily transportable vessel. I used to have an incredible rigid but semi soft Guild case that I could comfortably check in on flights - but it’s disappeared somewhere and they don’t appear to sell them any more. If any one has any suggestions, please let me know - ideally with shoulder straps.
*There should be an accent on the e of Salome but I can’t find it on an ipad.
Thanks for this new books recommandations Laura! 🙏
FYI you can type an « é » on your iPad by long pressing the letter e on the keyboard.
Have a lovely weekend!
MONO makes some pretty serious looking guitar travel cases: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/manufacturer/MONO