Last year I went to London for the first time (my first time in Europe, actually!) As soon as I set foot there I felt a feeling I'd never felt before, deep human time underfoot, almost infinite. I'd never been anywhere so haunted. It was exhilarating but it also made me feel dizzy & almost sick, so I called it 'time-vertigo'. The locals were immune to it, I guess because they'd lived their whole lives on top of the layer cake of ancientness.
Goodness, that's a form of torture for a writer -- it's bad enough as a printmaker to have to sign print editions – there's a point at which you lose your sense of what your signature is and it starts to look alien. We could frame it as a mindfulness exercise but that doesn't help. Doing it in small batches helps, but what you're being made to do is ridiculous! All strength to your hand. I treasure all your books and none of them are signed.
Enjoyed this greatly late at night, especially the walking in your footsteps through the ancient alleyways and byways of London. I started work in a press agency in Fleet Street in 1966, and always experience a thrill, and a chill, whenever I find myself in this atmospheric quarter.
Coming back each time to your enchanted little house in Spitalfields would possibly be like being welcomed to the hearth by the ancestors, not too scary at all.
I love reading your Substack pieces Jeanette. They awake a consciousness that sets me off for the day. I’m reading your Night Side of the River - at night in bed before I fall asleep (best way)- at the moment. I have to restrict myself to one story a night otherwise I muddle my ghosts up. At times I laugh - who knew that ghosts can be such fun! Thank you. I shall await the publication of Aladdin at our local book shop.
What a delightful glimpse into the process. Thank you Jeanette. I'm making a note to visit Toklas if it's still there whenever I get across the world to London again and also to FINALLY get round to reading The Autobiography of Alice B. Looking forward to your audiobook.
“My heart sank - hearts do sink, it’s a cliche that is allowed - anyway, I hauled up my heart,…” This brightened up my day completely! How is it that one can know a fossilized phrase like “my heart sank,”recognize the metaphor, and still not really take it in until someone makes it fresh again like this???
Hi Jeanette, the torture of tip ins is real but I’m looking forward to your new book, I’m going to track down an unsigned copy so publishers stop pretending every book has been signed off by the author.
As a translator sometimes I'm asked to provide a document with 'wet stamp' (which sounds rather 'eeeerchy..' to me - is that a new term?), I mean, physically stamp and sign with my fountain pen, print, post the old way, instead of the digitally stamped document. But isn't it good that such modalities still exist? So enjoy your frontispiece signing Jeanette, and thanks for a lovely piece, look forward to reading the book!
Last year I went to London for the first time (my first time in Europe, actually!) As soon as I set foot there I felt a feeling I'd never felt before, deep human time underfoot, almost infinite. I'd never been anywhere so haunted. It was exhilarating but it also made me feel dizzy & almost sick, so I called it 'time-vertigo'. The locals were immune to it, I guess because they'd lived their whole lives on top of the layer cake of ancientness.
Goodness, that's a form of torture for a writer -- it's bad enough as a printmaker to have to sign print editions – there's a point at which you lose your sense of what your signature is and it starts to look alien. We could frame it as a mindfulness exercise but that doesn't help. Doing it in small batches helps, but what you're being made to do is ridiculous! All strength to your hand. I treasure all your books and none of them are signed.
I love your pieces. I’m always taken somewhere I don’t expect. Thank you
Enjoyed this greatly late at night, especially the walking in your footsteps through the ancient alleyways and byways of London. I started work in a press agency in Fleet Street in 1966, and always experience a thrill, and a chill, whenever I find myself in this atmospheric quarter.
Coming back each time to your enchanted little house in Spitalfields would possibly be like being welcomed to the hearth by the ancestors, not too scary at all.
What a great essay.
I love reading your Substack pieces Jeanette. They awake a consciousness that sets me off for the day. I’m reading your Night Side of the River - at night in bed before I fall asleep (best way)- at the moment. I have to restrict myself to one story a night otherwise I muddle my ghosts up. At times I laugh - who knew that ghosts can be such fun! Thank you. I shall await the publication of Aladdin at our local book shop.
Oh yes a new book and what a wonderful way to introduce it! Can't wait.
What a delightful glimpse into the process. Thank you Jeanette. I'm making a note to visit Toklas if it's still there whenever I get across the world to London again and also to FINALLY get round to reading The Autobiography of Alice B. Looking forward to your audiobook.
'dumb as a saucepan, barely able to cut up an apple' ...
This post is marvelous, magical, mindly, mine. I love it. Thank you, dear heart.
And how does one procure one of these Aladdin's with the tipped in signature, British or American
edition (or both)?
Delightful. Thank you for reminding us of the lightness of life, the absurdities and delights.
“My heart sank - hearts do sink, it’s a cliche that is allowed - anyway, I hauled up my heart,…” This brightened up my day completely! How is it that one can know a fossilized phrase like “my heart sank,”recognize the metaphor, and still not really take it in until someone makes it fresh again like this???
Beautiful writing, as always. Your work marries the simple with the
grandeur of the magnificent, in line after line. Thank you.
Thank you for this - a wonderful way to start my day.
Hi Jeanette, the torture of tip ins is real but I’m looking forward to your new book, I’m going to track down an unsigned copy so publishers stop pretending every book has been signed off by the author.
As a translator sometimes I'm asked to provide a document with 'wet stamp' (which sounds rather 'eeeerchy..' to me - is that a new term?), I mean, physically stamp and sign with my fountain pen, print, post the old way, instead of the digitally stamped document. But isn't it good that such modalities still exist? So enjoy your frontispiece signing Jeanette, and thanks for a lovely piece, look forward to reading the book!