To Hell with Picasso & Other Essays by Paul Johnson

To Hell with Picasso & Other

Essays by Paul Johnson is remarkably good if you want to read the impressions of an established columnists regarding customs, life and what happens in the Uk and the world. The years taken in consideration are just apparently distants, these pieces published in the Spectator were written from 1992 to 1996 but they are absolutely good also for our times. I read some of these pieces and I found them informative, profound.

Love of books for starting: mr Johnson tells that he has books in every part of his house, and that this one, with painting is his main passion. He is pretty frugal confess, for the rest. He doesn't mind for beautiful clothes, expensive cars, but he is a book addicted (I know the feeling) and  he adores paintings.

Pavarotti, an artist I simply adore (I am able to listen his operas per hours) and what happened at La Scala in 1992, reason for a piece and some reflections. That year the famous beloved tenor committed a little error and spectactors complained for the rest of the entire opera. A reason for some reflections regarding the behavior of the italian spectators and the ways italians treat, with great respect, education and distance (we are discreet it is true) foreigners. Italians, writes the journalist are educated people, not important their social state, this one is a common treat recognizable from North to South; their being not "abusive", not too intrudent in the life of a person (in particular when mr.Johnson paints outdoor) truly appreciated by the columnist. Just, for obscure and still unknown reasons they lose their patience while in a theater for watching an Opera. 

Johnson in another column takes in consideration the short tale. It can appears a strange form of writing, but remarkable writers started their profession with short tales. They're vital and fundamental for forming ideas, and for giving to readers a wonderful product, not too long, but in grade of being absolutely appreciated.

Mr.Johnson admitted that was a passionate of the genre because some American realities paid also a dollar per word (oh my God!!! what a luck for someone in grade of writing well) and so he was absolutely tempted in the creation of good products, because the possibility of earning great money was visible and realistic.

But the column focuses in the sad reality of the 1990s: there are not anymore interest in short tales. A great suggestion to newspapers and magazines? Re-starting to take in consideration short tales as it happened in the past, when authors like Hemingway, Kipling, and more became names also thanks to this art.

Just some pills of what you will find in this book, absolutely suggested to everyone because terribly interesting!

I have bought this book at the second-hand bookstore located in Umbertide called Books for Dogs.

Anna Maria Polidori