Customer Reviews

Hold Everything Dear

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One of the wisest voices of our time, John Berger, has pieced together 17 thoughts or, 'dispatches'(with its military connotations) about the post 9/11 environment which we now, all share. For most of his long life, Berger has sided with the powerless and dispossessed, even taking the step of quitting a high profile career in London, where he seemed to be at the cutting edge of art criticism with his ground-breaking,'Ways of Seeing' made for BBC T.V and never out of print in book form.He relocated in a peasant village in rural France, to immerse himself in what would form the subject of some of his most compelling writing.There has been no diminishing of power in his thought or eloquence as he gains his senior years. The Palestine issue, in particular, gets coverage. And he returne to the pitiless paintings of Francis Bacon for what I suspect will be his final published view of him. And there is a re-contexturalising of the great Piero Pasolini; Berger having just watched his 'La Rabbia'(how and where can I ever get to see this?). I guess, I wish the collection had more in it. But what is there is potent, direct and as usual, poetic. Which leads me to its title; not one of John's pieces, but the publication in its opening pages of a very beautiful poem by one, Gareth Evans. Have a squizz! For more on art visit>rodmoss.com

I love reading John Berger. He is an original thinker.
I don't always agree with his point of view but I love to read it.
This book was very moving at times but also very enigmatic. I think
that Mr. Berger is such a sensitive man that art criticism offers a safer space,
than political discourse,to provide a more succinct point of view.
I felt when reading his book the human tragedy that is going on
now in the middle east is so hard to believe even when one is a witness to it.

A must read! Each essay is packed with such eloquence and depth that it is hard not to reread them several times, as one would do with poetry, just to make sure the full intent of the author is grasped.

This is a must for lovers of contemporary literature, devotees of current events and modern political thought.

A beautiful piece of literature.

this book provides the reader with another perspective of the conflicts between israel and palestine, and between usa and its enemy of the decade. the emotions of civilians are explored, as is the saddness felt by onlookers. this book is useful for anyone wishing to see anew the conflicts tearing the world.

i guess there should always be a perspective from the french countryside to balance out fox.