And now for something a little different (and lighter after yesterday's long post). On Sunday I went to see the opera Carmen, which was excellent. I still have the music running through my head. I didn't realize how long the production was (over three hours), but it was worth every minute of it (and now I must make a point of going to more cultural events like that), but it threw off my blog-post-planning-writing a little. It's been quite a while since I have shared any of my bookish postcards, and I have received a number of great literary cards, which I have been wanting to share. These are just a few, but I thought you might get a kick out of seeing them.
I had never heard of a chained library before. I guess that is one way to make sure that your books don't grow feet and walk away (as they are sometimes want to do!). It gives new meaning to non-circulating! Apparently this was popular for reference libraries at one time.
I love Carl Larsson (1853-1919). Das Lesezimmer, 1909. Sign me up for a reading room this lovely!
I think M.C. Escher (1898-1972) is pretty cool, too. Isn't this image great? It was one I was not familiar with. Still Life and Street, 1937.
Library. Mark Twain House & Museum, Hartford, CT.
Frederick Carl Frieseke (1874-1939). Blue Girl Reading, 1935. This is so calming, isn't it? Another new-to-me artist.
Carl Larsson (1853-1919). Schoolwork, 1908.
Stourhead Wiltshire, The 1804 Library Steps by Thomas Chippendale the Younger. This is a National Trust house.
I could do with some tall bookshelves like these. The stairs are pretty impressive, too.
Hah. I got a big kick out this one. It brought a smile to my face when I found it in my mailbox (though to be fair a smile is pretty much assured when I find any postcard or letter in my mailbox). This is titled Lesen. A bookish garden gnome. Who woulda thought.
For more literary postcards: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.
Back to more serious bookishness tomorrow.