Lighted Window, The
Evening Walks Remembered
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Bodleian Library
Published:5th Nov '21
Should be back in stock very soon
This book explores themes of homecoming, nostalgia, and desire through the motif of the lighted window, weaving together place-writing, memoir, and cultural study across various artistic and literary contexts.
The Lighted Window by Peter Davidson explores the themes of homecoming, nostalgia, and desire through the evocative imagery of illuminated windows in literature and art. This work blends place-writing, memoir, and cultural study, guiding readers on atmospheric journeys through the nighttime landscapes of cities across Britain, Europe, and North America, while also revisiting the serene field paths of rural England.
Davidson surveys a diverse array of material, spanning from early romantic paintings to contemporary literature. The geographical scope of the book is equally broad, encompassing regions from the Low Countries to Japan. It highlights the presence of lighted windows in English literature, drawing on the works of notable poets like Thomas Hardy and Matthew Arnold, as well as renowned authors such as Virginia Woolf and Arthur Conan Doyle. The author also delves into the painted nocturnes of artists like James Whistler and John Atkinson Grimshaw, alongside the ruralist visions of Samuel Palmer.
By examining the interplay between art, literature, and geography, Davidson reveals how the motif of the lighted window has inspired a rich tapestry of moods and ideas throughout history. From the romantic era to modern times, this book uncovers the profound emotional resonance of this symbol, inviting readers to reflect on their own connections to the themes of longing and remembrance that permeate our experiences of place and memory.
'A connoisseur of the crepuscular, the in-between zone dividing night and day, and all its electrifying implications. ... Winter cities, London nocturnes, northern townscapes … These generate aesthetically significant representations within the boundaries of Peter Davidson’s pungent and particular theme. He brings us some unexpected and enlightening assessments and observations, as his book proceeds on its scholarly and seductive way.' * Dublin Review of Books *
'This is an art-history and English-literature lesson rolled into one, best enjoyed in the glow of your own bedside lamp, ideally with a storm raging outside.' * Country Life *
'In this gorgeous book, Peter Davidson heads out into Oxford at nightfall, to consider cities in winter and rural summer twilights that embrace the warmth of the day. ... Enchanting.' * The Simple Things *
'Davidson creates his own idiosyncratic, hybrid genre in which cultural history, nature writing and place writing are channelled through personal experience. … [he is] an excellent guide not just along pavements and footpaths but around paintings too, teasing out shades of meaning. ... Imagination and memory, the book suggests, create their own lighted windows in the darkest of journeys and have the power to change the world around us.' * TLS *
'Erudite, companionable, and hypnotically satisfying.' * Financial Times *
'While it's beautiful to peruse, this is no coffee-table book but a beguiling work of academia and an excellent festive offering for anyone who has walked past a lighted window on a dark evening and wondered about the goings-on inside.' * The Field *
'There isn’t a Faber Book of Windows at Night, but Davidson is certainly the man for the job and The Lighted Window is a sort of memoir of the thought processes that would have produced one.' * The Literary Review *
'A beautiful and timely book.' * Radio 4 Open Book *
'A must-read if you've ever been captivated by a glimpse into another life on your evening stroll.' * OX Magazine *
'Will evoke fond memories for any alumnus … the book will banish away winter nights while evoking the anticipation of spring and summer.' * QUAD Magazine *
ISBN: 9781851245147
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 774g
224 pages