Devastated to learn of the death yesterday of my dear friend Francis O’Gorman (Francis O'Gorman), a beautiful person in every way, a fine mind and a gentle soul, who in recent years knew both great suffering and much love. May choirs of angels sing him to his rest.

Just had a delightful marketing meeting with the lovely folk over at Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.s (including the delightful Michelle Komie) and I’m feeling so excited that Fragmentary Forms: A New History of Collage will be out in a few months!!

link below👇
press.princeton.edu/books/hardcove…

Back now in the UK. But, in my private mind, I’ll be feasting on the sights of Venice for months to come.

Whether composedly, over coffee, like Donghi’s Cocottina, or flushed with anger like Klimt’s Judith, I can’t be sure. I love the way she’s wearing Holofernes like a camera.

In Venice, I enjoy window shopping. By which I mean, looking for beautiful windows and mentally installing myself behind them.

Balcony? Check.
Wisteria? Check
Astonishing view? All good.

When I get home, I inhabit a sort of advent calendar in memory, with windows for each day.

We need some more participants for our workshop 'A Rewilding Journey' from 11-18 May. Based in beautiful Glen Affric, it's a great opportunity for anyone interested in rewilding & we have bursary funds available. Please repost
Ben Goldsmith George Monbiot
alanwatsonfeatherstone.com/events/a-rewil…

Venice is a slippery place.

The colours are ravishing. The sudden views as one emerges from narrow, steep-sided alleys, charm with surprise.

But yesterday, my partner had his phone stolen as he was holding an umbrella over our daughter while navigating. 😞

Stay safe, friends.

I love writing/drawing books about feelings and deep thoughts. #kidlit #kidlit art

One of the loveliest nooks in Venice is Gianni Basso’s printshop in Calle del Fumo. He makes business cards & invitations, handprinted on a little press using old type. I interviewed him 10 yrs ago for a magazine, & said I’d return one day to get my own cards.

Today I did.

UK earthworm population down by a staggering one third in just last 25 years.

Grim news indeed, for our soils, bird populations and ecosystems in general

theguardian.com/environment/20…

'Parrot tulip with butterfly and beetle' by Barbara Regina Dietzsch (1706-1783) Bavarian painter and engraver who sold her work throughout Europe #WomensArt

Surprise, surprise: grouse moor lobbyist would prefer decisions over moorland SSSIs are made by Tory Environment Ministers, two of whom <checks notes> *own* grouse moors (Lord Miller & Lord Benyon) 🤔

I’m pleased to say that English Literature at the University of Glasgow are advertising two new permanent posts. Applications for the James Murray Beattie Lectureships in Victorian Literature, and in Fantasy Literature, close on 6th May 24. More info here: gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/

It’s a profoundly sad thing when you’ve spent your whole life feeling childish joy at the sight of the sea, but now when you see children on the beach, you worry about sewage.

I have escaped. And it is blissful.

I was obliged to take some work with me, so I’m trying to Be Good.
But right now, on Lido, I can hear a woodpecker & see velvety purple irises & the hazy green of trees in bud. First meal outdoors this yr.

I wish you all a very happy weekend.

Destruction of a precious ancient bluebell woodland in the Kent countryside under a deluge of illegal landfill waste shows the utter failure of environmental law, complete inaction by the authorities & increasing lawlessness in the UK. Let me tell you the story of Hoads Wood 🧵

As it happens, I’ve just read three books by Mrs Oliphant in a row, taking me to twelve so far. I have no hesitation in saying that she was a genius. If you think you’ve read all the great British novelists of the 19th century and haven’t read her, then you’re kidding yourself.

Bittern numbers in the UK continue to grow. A fantastic conservation success. (Obligatory pun on ‘boom’ in the article title.) #UKbirding

Boom in mating calls of Britain’s loudest bird signals successful breeding year

theguardian.com/environment/20…

Oh my, she lives! And I could not be more excited.
[I know she is a bit pricey at the moment but paperbacks will come...] Due out in August.

Creative Industries make up 6% of our economy. That’s more than car and oil industries together. They employ 2.3million people. To cut funding for creative arts at university level is fudge-brained, cack-hearted thinking pitched very much at the highest level of economic…

I hope this expensive and restrictive legislation is looked at again, but meantime, if you don’t have the right ID, here’s the link to get what you need to vote in May and at the General Election. gov.uk/apply-for-phot…