tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post3476607168645588980..comments2024-03-19T02:34:30.151-04:00Comments on The Blue Remembered Hills™: Ensplendour'dBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07652670896513329236noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-67860509759464338952015-10-13T12:42:15.893-04:002015-10-13T12:42:15.893-04:00Looking at this picture, one dreams about the refi...Looking at this picture, one dreams about the refined elegance and brilliant conversation of that circle, all so beautifully summarised in this vignette from the August 1998 Vanity Fair article on de Beistegui. <br /><br /> "Moreover, no one actually seemed to like Charlie much. In fact, several people told me he was a real shit, and they used the English word. Not all his moments were exquisite, either. At a Paris party, I heard the story of a grand lady, who must remain nameless, who called on Beistegui after his stroke and was dismayed by his disagreeable habit of placing his hand beneath him under the covers and then smelling his fingers during their conversation."<br /><br />I would certainly have thought twice about kissing anyone's hand at that party! Still, scratch and sniff isn't the worst thing I've heard about him!Jenny Furballsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-57202801403043549492011-03-20T12:39:24.208-04:002011-03-20T12:39:24.208-04:00what this brought to post war france was frivolity...what this brought to post war france was frivolity. why not? even the rich deserved a party. this in the extreme and now it is politically correct because it is a Charity ball. there are people doing an inordinate amount of work for the cause they do believe in,the heavy lifters, then there are the people that do the work because they need to make money-serving catering whatever-then there are the feeders- pay to come dressed for the party. there is a place for everyone to benefit. I prefer to be the doer -for art's sake and retreat behind the columns or pass on the actual event. Something for everyone- even the discontents, malcontents and ignorantly blissful. As always your words sail far beyond the topic at hand. GayeP.Gaye Tapp at Little Auguryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15115534755711063462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-53313541156840955542011-03-19T21:01:35.694-04:002011-03-19T21:01:35.694-04:00I don't want to prolong this unduly -- BUT the...I don't want to prolong this unduly -- BUT the article in question was written -- and most of the photographs therein were taken -- by the very blond third wife of a billionaire in attendance.<br /><br />(In practice, this makes the feelings expressed above even more to the point.)The Ancienthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11662492574558280077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-6970942864757479582011-03-18T11:06:59.234-04:002011-03-18T11:06:59.234-04:00The Ancient and The Devoted Classicist, again than...The Ancient and The Devoted Classicist, again thank you. <br /><br />I finally read the NYSD article about the party in the DR. It is not something I would normally click on, that sort of account of a society party - I'm neither part of society nor interested in it. That those people are interested in seeing themselves in a society column and, to The Devoted Classicist's point, to invite press photographers along is beyond my understanding - unless it is pure ego (which should be of no surprise, I suppose.)<br /><br />Clearly, there are enough people interested in so-called society for gossip websites, magazines and TV programs to earn vast revenues in advertising. Look at the obsession with Charlie Sheen! <br /><br />And so it is with Charles de Beistegui and his fancy-dress ball - an unending fascination with the doings of a rich man who looked down great disdain on the rest of us.Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652670896513329236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-56163419984258480952011-03-18T08:41:50.130-04:002011-03-18T08:41:50.130-04:00I took a look at the story on the partying in the ...I took a look at the story on the partying in the D.R. that Ancient mentioned. I found it interesting (odd?) that so-called Society reporters were in attendance. Perhaps the thought was that it was not really fun unless others knew what they were missing! And as for the mobs of have-nots, people who have visited the resort told me that security is a serious consideration and it is well armed against any uprising but all are prepared to leave on short notice.The Devoted Classicisthttp://tdclassicist.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-88279201934385936612011-03-17T21:43:31.153-04:002011-03-17T21:43:31.153-04:00The Ancient, thank you. A splendid and heartfelt c...The Ancient, thank you. A splendid and heartfelt comment if ever I read one!Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652670896513329236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-56058544305742514932011-03-17T14:10:41.753-04:002011-03-17T14:10:41.753-04:00Karena, thank you - a very complimentary comment a...Karena, thank you - a very complimentary comment and one I really appreciate.Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652670896513329236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-8863388182585624022011-03-17T14:09:27.488-04:002011-03-17T14:09:27.488-04:00Toby Worthington, thank you.
I do not know Lisa C...Toby Worthington, thank you.<br /><br />I do not know Lisa Chaney's biography but will try to find it. I have Artemis Cooper's "authorized" biography of Elizabeth David. I've my memory serves me well, Douglas's paganism is there for all to see in the quotations about him in David's books and it makes him all the more interesting a personality. I shall now read his books.Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652670896513329236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-17020670867829694712011-03-17T13:58:55.501-04:002011-03-17T13:58:55.501-04:00I'm a reasonably reactionary sort of person, b...I'm a reasonably reactionary sort of person, but just the other day, when I was reading Dilettante's latest piece in NYSD, I made the mistake of clicking on an adjacent article about a days' long party recently held down in the Dominican Republic. <i>There,</i> I thought to myself, <i>if there is ever to be a massed attack on the frivolous, stupid rich, let it begin there.</i><br /><br />Of course, that was just a stray thought, quickly suppressed. The idle rich, defunct politicians, commodity monopolists, degenerate aristocrats, debt-fueled break-up artists, and the bubble-brained blonds attached to them like so many suckerfish are obviously entitled to spend their money however they like.<br /><br />So I suppose what I think is this: <br /><br />It's certainly possible to enjoy the pictures and accounts of Charlie de Beistegui's party without wanting to have been there -- either for the reasons adduced by that young man, or simply to avoid the many silly people who were there. And if the entire place had fallen into the canal that very night, taking everyone with it, well, that would have just made the night even more memorable -- the <i>gratin</i> would ensplendour'd the waters of Venice in some entirely new way.<br /><br />sec word: flodies -- Gratin bobbing in the Grand Canal<br /><br />P.S. I second Laurent's recommendation.The Ancienthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11662492574558280077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-49251457708762143402011-03-17T13:52:22.282-04:002011-03-17T13:52:22.282-04:00Laurent, thank you for your delicious comment! I&#...Laurent, thank you for your delicious comment! I'll try to find the DVD. <br /><br />I have not been able to get Siren Land but when I have read the two of Douglas's that I have, Old Calabria and South Wind, I shall order it.Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652670896513329236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-81850711602526184752011-03-17T13:48:51.987-04:002011-03-17T13:48:51.987-04:00The Devoted Classicist, thank you. I agree that th...The Devoted Classicist, thank you. I agree that the ball must have been immensely stylish but I was led down another path by the quotation from Elizabeth David. Occasionally, I'm interested in looking behind the curtain even at the most splendid of occasions - and undoubtedly the Villa Labia ball was that. MInd you, I'd love to see the photos of the pompieri di Venezia!Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652670896513329236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-56494649193615757332011-03-17T11:50:25.376-04:002011-03-17T11:50:25.376-04:00So interesting because the word that came to mind ...So interesting because the word that came to mind as I was reading is splendorous!<br /><br />A stunning recount of a historical ocassion and times.<br /><br />Xoxo<br />Karena<br />Art by KarenaKarenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05206642885608991170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-27768915547530501022011-03-17T11:02:04.376-04:002011-03-17T11:02:04.376-04:00In the excellent biography of Elizabeth David by L...In the excellent biography of Elizabeth David by Lisa Chaney, the author<br />makes a matter-of-fact reference to Norman Douglas's "disdainful<br />paganism". It could be that which made you wary. In any case, glad<br />to know that I wasn't the only one thrown by that anecdote in Mrs<br />David's piece on Norman Douglas.Toby Worthingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05887066048372484464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-87397743301250189022011-03-17T09:06:42.218-04:002011-03-17T09:06:42.218-04:00I do like "ensplendour'd", and shall...I do like "ensplendour'd", and shall try and use it as often as I can in the coming weeks, nay months. It might force me to make my life more so. I also like the idea of being "evaporated". Maybe I'm just enjoying your writing. No surprise there!columnisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03764365428633038329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-51220178707282300952011-03-17T08:28:54.850-04:002011-03-17T08:28:54.850-04:00The party can be rented on DVD, any time, under th...The party can be rented on DVD, any time, under the title, "The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade." A stimulating anatomisation of masochistic cupidity, I've been able to watch it only once. The template for Douglas, if it's still in print in Penguin's Travel Library, is "Siren Land," 1911.Laurenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17972899387484460347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-83824163977674071462011-03-17T00:49:48.244-04:002011-03-17T00:49:48.244-04:00Some folks would begrudge a party within decades o...Some folks would begrudge a party within decades of a tragedy. What is that cool centerpiece on the big table in the last picture.("Cool" seems to be withstanding the test of time.)Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14154846109609330503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785207417164829425.post-66517682725094684252011-03-16T20:21:40.744-04:002011-03-16T20:21:40.744-04:00Perhaps the Palazzo Labia party was the height of ...Perhaps the Palazzo Labia party was the height of decadence, but I have to admit that I would have loved to have attended. I have seen many photos, from the Venetian firemen who performed at the entrance dock to the elaborate costumes worn by all the guests. It just all seemed to be so fabulously stylish.The Devoted Classicisthttp://tdclassicist.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com