Liz Workman

For those of us who enjoy feeling a little closer to some of our literary and other heroes, this quirky photo-essay of the details from houses of famous men is a delight. Chairs, china, doorknobs, skirting boards, desks and books are among the recorded items.

As Germaine Greer says in her Foreword, the famous women often didn't own their homes, and the houses they lived in have not always been so well preserved, so a companion book is unlikely. But women are present in these photos for the choices they were likely to have made on behalf of their husbands, brothers, sons etc, as well as in their photographs and their books on the shelves, Wharton was particularly in evidence in one library.

Its a voyeristic journey for the imagination, but can bring back the person quite vividly. I own to having several volumes of books detailing writers houses.… (mer)