Monthly Archives: September 2025

at least in Plattsburgh, New York. When I was planning my trip to North America and found that I could take a train to and from Montreal to visit my sister and brother-in-law in Burlington, Vermont, I saw that one of the stops was in a place called Plattsburgh, New York, and when I lookedContinue reading “Rockwell Kent lives”

As I am in Burlington, Vermont, visiting my sister and brother-in-law it seems somehow appropriate to imagine what the world would be like if Bernie Sanders, who served as mayor here for many years before he was a senator, had been elected president in 2016. To help you carry out the thought experiment you mightContinue reading “A thought experiment”

Bunny Ragnerstam, who passed away this spring, was the author of many fine historical novels primarily about working class life in southern Sweden in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His wife Christina came by the shop recently and asked if I would be interested in buying some of his books and, after twoContinue reading “A kindred spirit”

Rebecca Solnit is always worth reading (I have just started Orwell’s Roses, a wonderful way into the life of George Orwell) and in this interview, she is at her acerbic best, as she talks, in her inimitable way, about Trump and America and the importance of reading books as a way to persevere in theContinue reading “In praise of books”

Giulia Cantone, who had played with Alison Luthmers at Alison’s release party in the spring, came by the shop the other day and will now contribute to our tenth anniversary celebration with a concert on October 2. Giulia is an Italian lutenist specializing in Renaissance and Baroque plucked instruments. Based in Malmö for the pastContinue reading “Welcome back Giulia”

The Swedish government has just announced a “cultural” canon, and, unlike all the real cannons that the government buys and sells around the world, this one has been controversial. May I suggest that instead of trying to impose one cultural canon on its people the government might instead encourage each of us to find ourContinue reading “Sweden’s canon”