The beginning of August saw the publication of This Dark Business, an analysis of the early stages of the Secret War against Napoleon. I am quite proud of this book which has been very favourably reviewed by Andrew Roberts in the Sunday Times....
I have been awarded a senior fellowship by the Paul Mellon Centre in London to complete a book book provisionally entitled James Gillray and the Business of Satire. I have always wanted to write a book on Gillray and I am most grateful to the...
The American theme continued with a one-day conference at Versailles to accompany the exhibition Versailles et l'Indépendence Américaine. I had made small contributions to the catalogue on the theme of propaganda and was asked to speak on the image of the French and Americans in...
I would like to thank all those involved and especially the organizers for an absolutely fascinating few days at the Lewis Walpole Library in Farmington, Connecticut. I was invited for a very interesting and lively study day devoted to James Gillray, followed by seminars led...
Thanks to all who helped set up and attended what for me was a most enjoyable discussion of the work of Henry William Bunbury at Moyse's Hall in Bury St Edmunds. I thoroughly recommend the little exhibition on this likable local and international figure that...
I have just completed a checklist of the eleven volumes of prints by Gillray (and a few other artists) in the House of Lords. The collection was given to the House by the important Victorian collector Sir William Augustus Fraser (1826-1898). The prints were compiled...
I am looking forward to Thursday's study day in Paris where I shall be talking about French prints in England around 1700 - an interest inspired by the collection of George Clarke at Worcester College Oxford http://prints.worc.ox.ac.uk For the exhibition and study day see http://www.bnf.fr/fr/evenements_et_culture/expositions/f.images_grand_siecle.html...
Bonaparte and the British gets 322,465 visitors! ‘A richly illuminating exhibition…fascinating’ Harry Eyres, Financial Times ‘Plenty to admire…linger, return and to savour this virtuoso vulgarity at leisure, invest in Tim Clayton and Sheila O’Connell’s enlightening – and entertaining – catalogue.’ (Five stars) Boyd Tonkin, Independent...
Opening of Bonaparte and the British with a deft speech by Julian Barnes. Looks great. Many thanks to all who helped create the exhibition and the lovely catalogue....