'Night (no. 2)', Chelsea (1907) by William Orpen (National Gallery of Victoria)

The Courtauld Gallery's Georges Seurat show opens tomorrow, it charts the evolution of his style through the motif of the sea and reunites for the first time, 26 works created over five trips to the northern coast of France between 1885 and 1890. This is Port en Bessin (1888)

⬇️ Agreeing totally about the 3 books I've read (Baker, Carr, Comyns), I bet the rest of the list is just as good. [Adding to the TBR.]

The latest in my very intermittent alphabetical series - P is for Panter-Downes

Excellent picks.

New on the blog today for #ReadIndies, I've written about some of my favourite books from NYRB Classics. Featuring books by Elizabeth Taylor, Barbara Comyns, J. L. Carr and more! @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social #BookSky 💙📚 #TranslationThurs jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/02/12/s...

I thought the first hour of Cloud was both perfect and the best thing Kiyoshi Kurosawa had directed since the late 90s/early 00s high watermark. It is an icy, end-of-history, late stage capitalism nightmare. A disaffected criminal enterprise run from a computer, almost emotionless in its rigour.

#Filmsky strikes again! Someone on here mentioned Ken Lonergan's Margaret so I watched it. Eeexcellent portrait of a young woman falling apart.

"The rain had stopped during the night and the morning was all blue and gold. There was enough snap in the air to make life simple and sweet, if you didn't have too much on your mind. I had." —Raymond Chandler, Killer in the Rain

CHARULATA (Satyajit Ray, 1964). Loved this portrait of a lonely, creatively talented young woman trapped in an unfulfilling marriage with a workaholic journalist. >> (1/3) #FilmSky

A few delights from my trip to Paris, including wise words from Marie Laurencin and Suzanne Valadon’s studio

On my third Muriel Spark book in a row. I rarely read the same author back to back and NEVER three or more on the bounce. I read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in my teens and it has taken me until my 40s to hit the rest. She is amazing. ❤️❤️ #BookSky💙📚

Lovely Glynis Johns In MIRANDA at 12.50pm today. A lunchtime treat for anyone who happens to be free! #FilmSky

For #readindies today, my thoughts on the stunning new book by #jeremycooper from @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social - "Discord". More here kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2026/02/11/t...

‘…and now that the children were away she found she was afraid to speak for fear of disturbing a silence that might, if broken, reveal any number of things that she did not want to see and that she was sure he did not want to see.’ #BookSky 💙📚 #ReadIndies jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/s...

'In the days, in the weeks after Ella’s coming, Esther was not at all happy. She felt that she was always trying to be nice to Ella, and yet always her advances were met—no, not exactly coldly, and yet somehow not met at all.' #BookSky 💙📚 #ReadIndies jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/s...

Vale Backlisted! I so loved appearing to talk about Cassandra at the Wedding in ep148 (and always hoped I'd get to go back for another ep, though it wasn't to be).

Au revoir @backlisted.bsky.social, which has encouraged me to read so many ‘lesser known’ authors over the years, from Barbara Comyns and Rosamond Lehmann to Alexander Baron and Paula Fox. Huge thanks for many, many hours of insightful analyses and pure listening pleasure. You will be much missed!

During WW1, Clare Attwood was commissioned by the Women's Work Sub-committee of the Imperial War Museum to produce several pictures depicting the activities of the Women's Voluntary Service. This work (1918) shows volunteers filing papers in the ballroom at Devonshire House.

First watch: Crossfire (1947, dir. Edward Dmytryk). Celebrated my new VPN with this classic "B" noir on BBC iPlayer, starring Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, and Gloria Grahame. Based on a novel by Richard Brooks, whose 1967 In Cold Blood adaptation I enjoyed so much last month. 1/

‘…and now that the children were away she found she was afraid to speak for fear of disturbing a silence that might, if broken, reveal any number of things that she did not want to see and that she was sure he did not want to see.’ #BookSky 💙📚 #ReadIndies jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/s...

Book 6! What a total delight. My favourite Laurie Colwin I've read. Wanted to stay in that world forever and never leave 💙

That’s it for now. After ten years, we are taking a long break. But our Patreon is alive and well and full of great stuff. Join us there for new writing, chat and online events, plus 250 ad-free shows and 150 episodes of Locklisted. www.patreon.com/backlisted

Illustrations for Lewis Carroll's 'Alice in Wonderland', 1959 edition, by Finnish artist and Moomins creator Tove Jansson #WomensArt

I missed this when it came out. I could listen to her all day talking about films. So open-minded and perceptive about her choices. Shout out to surrealist gem Daisies as well. youtu.be/fiuHyOtavek?...

Felix Vallotton's picture (1920) depicts late afternoon at Les Alyscamps, a large Roman necropolis a short distance outside the walls of the old town of Arles in southern France.

I enjoyed this very much… #FilmSky boxd.it/d3U3cn

'In the days, in the weeks after Ella’s coming, Esther was not at all happy. She felt that she was always trying to be nice to Ella, and yet always her advances were met—no, not exactly coldly, and yet somehow not met at all.' #BookSky 💙📚 #ReadIndies jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/s...

A tremendous film, one of my favourite first-time watches from last year. #FilmSky

There are some belters to be had here. Thank you for doing them! (Also: my dad's ghost is in one episode)

Eric Ravilious was a virtuoso at capturing everyday scenes and little details from English provincial life. This view (1935) is from the home he shared with Tirzah Garwood at Bank House, Castle Hedingham, Essex.

From the archive for Natsume Sōseki, born on this day in 1867, thoughts on THE GATE (tr William F. Sibley). An excellent, quietly compelling novel of urban alienation & angst. Like a Yasujirō Ozu film in literary form. @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social #BookSky 💙📚 jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2016/11/29/t...

New on the blog today I've written about STORIES FOR MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS, another excellent anthology from the @blpublishing.bsky.social Women Writers series. Featuring stories by Maeve Brennan, A.S. Byatt, Jeanette Winterson & more! #BookSky #ReadIndies 💙📚 jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/s...

Virginia Woolf book cover designs by her sister, artist Vanessa Bell ( 1920's - 30's) #WomensArt

First watch: Magnificent Obsession (1954). Zany melodrama from Douglas Sirk that first paired Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson, a year before the director's signature film All That Heaven Allows. A reckless playboy tries to absolve his guilt with an improbable and elaborate scheme. 1/2

'Daphne’s existence went on. There were more dances, tea meetings, Lord’s, Goodwood, helping with plays for good causes; the unending putting on of dresses and having pictures taken...' #BookSky 💙📚 #ReadIndies jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/s...

Love is in the air at Manderley Press! Thanks for all your support - February is a tricky month for indie businesses but all your orders have put a spring in my publishing step! Happy Valentines Day, in advance! #booksky #valentinesday

Douglas Stannus Gray's home at 102 King's Avenue in Clapham, SW London was used as a setting for a great many of his pictures. The influence of John Singer Sargent, who he trained under at the RA, is evident in his loose, wet-on-wet technique which gives this work its spontaneity

Today on the blog, one book for two events: #ReadIndies and #HungarianLitMonth “Every night he tried himself and every night he acquitted himself.” (Emeric Pressburger, The Glass Pearls) madamebibilophilerecommends.co.uk/2026/02/08/e...

Today would have been Harold Steggles' 115th birthday as he was born on 8th February 1911. Very sadly, he died, tragically young, of leukaemia, aged just 60 on 13th October 1971. I have attached a few examples of his work along with a lovely photo of him. #HaroldSteggles #botd #EastLondonGroup

“Heavy rains that often fall in February have flooded the low-lying meadows in the broad valley.” ‘What to Look for in Winter’, 1959 Artist: CF Tunnicliffe Writer: EL Grant Watson

First watch: Une Histoire Simple (A Simple Story, 1978). After Vincent, François, Paul... (1974), another ensemble piece directed by Claude Sautet about a group of friends dealing with professional & romantic crises. This time the focus is on women, especially Marie (played by Romy Schneider). 1/2

'Daphne’s existence went on. There were more dances, tea meetings, Lord’s, Goodwood, helping with plays for good causes; the unending putting on of dresses and having pictures taken...' #BookSky 💙📚 #ReadIndies jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/s...

New on the blog today I've written about STORIES FOR MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS, another excellent anthology from the @blpublishing.bsky.social Women Writers series. Featuring stories by Maeve Brennan, A.S. Byatt, Jeanette Winterson & more! #BookSky #ReadIndies 💙📚 jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/s...

'A Glasgow Lodging.' (1953) Joan Eardley is celebrated most as a painter of landscapes and roaring seas but her work as a painter of people is equally important. This is a tough image, a superb example of her uncompromising realism.

SENTIMENTAL VALUE continues to show throughout Feb, March and April - and it just keeps selling out at the PCC, this one is really resonating with audiences. Why not catch it with Trier's other modern classics, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD, OSLO, AUGUST 31ST AND REPRISE. 🎟️: buff.ly/bYdXvmJ

'Rear Window' (1954) Alfred Hitchcock

2026 reading 🧵 A noir so dark you could get lost in it. Makes the (tremendous) film look like a romantic comedy. Dorothy B. Hughes is one of the greats of classic American crime. Be aware, links to the movie are slight. It’s very much its own beast.

Painted in 1937 in the scullery of Oak Cottage, Wrotham, Kent, Charles Mahoney's great achievement at this house would be the portrayal of his garden and the plants he cultivated. This was also the year he published 'Gardeners' Choice,' a book with the artist Evelyn Dunbar.