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Scribble, Scribble, Scribble: Writing on Politics, Ice Cream, Churchill, and My Mother
 
 
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Scribble, Scribble, Scribble: Writing on Politics, Ice Cream, Churchill, and My Mother [Hardcover]

Simon Schama (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Book Description

April 12, 2011

The New York Times has hailed renowned historian and social commentator Simon Schama as a writer who "entwine[s] past and present into a meaningful, continuous whole." His deeply thoughtful and vastly knowledgeable books such as The Power of Art, The American Future, and the National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Rough Crossings have won acclaim for their intellectually rich and entertaining studies of the individuals and influences that have shaped the human condition, from the French Revolution to the political past and future of America, from the power of art to the role of nature in Western civilization.

Now, in this passionate and provocative collection, this brilliant observer brings his keen critical sensibility to a wide range of topics, both broad and intimate. Captivating and informative, Scribble, Scribble, Scribble offers a lighter, playful Simon Schama on a diverse range of subjects, from food and family to Winston Churchill, from Martin Scorsese and Richard Avedon to Rubens and Rembrandt, from his travels in Brazil and Amsterdam to New Orleans and Katrina. This selection of essays—originally published in magazines and newspapers including the New Yorker, Vogue, the New York Review of Books, and the Guardian—is a treasure trove of surprises that highlight Schama's sense of humor, curiosity, and idiosyncrasies. Never predictable, always stimulating, Scribble, Scribble, Scribble allows us to view the world, in all its diversity, through the eyes of one of its most intelligent, witty, and original inhabitants.


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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In these lively essays and reportage, Columbia historian Schama (The American Future: A History) turns his omnivorous erudition and warm prose to a vast array of topics. There are incisive historical essays on everything from Europeans' evolving image of the "Unloved American" to Churchill's oratory and, in a deliciously cruel book review, the "pigmification of historical scale" in micromonographs. There are meditations on the art of Rembrandt and Richard Avedon; reportage from British and American election campaigns; disdainful commentary on the Bush administration, and a stew to ice cream smorgasbord of foodie articles, recipes included. Schama is essentially the reporter-pundit with a chair in history, illuminating the most contemporary of topics in the buttery glow of historical context. One occasionally wonders whether that licenses him to write about absolutely everything: some pieces misfire—profiles of Martin Scorsese and Charlotte Rampling feel like generic celebrity puffery—and he lacks the distinctive style and outlook that would make you want to follow him all over the map. Still, he approaches every subject with gusto and amusement and, like your favorite professor, always has smart things to say. 8 pages of b&w photos. (Apr.)
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Review

“[T]his robust, generous smorgasbord has pretty much something for every palate.” (New York Times )

“Willfully miscellaneaous... addictively readable... [Schama] is clever, versatile, and extremely likable.” (Financial Times )

This sparkling, effervescent collection bridges the gap between scholarly and popular writing... It is excellent holiday reading.” (The Spectator )

“An enticing collection of pieces old and new, a bedside book of rich insights.” (The Observer )

“It really is very good... Witty, learned, informative, and clarifying.” (Evening Standard (London) )

“His eloquence is on magnificent display in this new book: a delightful collection of journalistic essays.” (The Independent on Sunday )

“The most stimulating and surprising writing here is on cooking and eating... A diverting personal history.” (The Telegraph )

“In these lively essays and reportage… Schama… turns his omnivorous erudition and warm prose to a vast array of topics. … He approaches every subject with gusto and amusement and … always has smart things to say.” (Publishers Weekly )

“[C]ollections of essays don’t come any better than this. All readers who like lively writing and good thinking, especially relating to art criticism and history, will enjoy this book.” (Library Journal )

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Ecco (April 12, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0062009869
  • ISBN-13: 978-0062009869
  • Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
In the Kitchen with Simon April 13, 2011
Format:Hardcover
As historian, art critic, political commentator, essayist, biographer, and amateur cook, Simon Schama can be interesting on any number of topics. The essays in this volume are mostly from the past ten years, but there are a few from as early as 1979. They first appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, The Guardian, The Financial Times, The New York Review of Books, and the London Review of Books. Some of the pieces appeared as chapters in anthologies, or as essays for theater programs and exhibition catalogs. Some were speeches he gave.

Schama is above all a historian, so I shouldn't have been surprised to find his historical essays a little too scholarly for my short attention span. On the other hand, I enjoyed many of the pieces on movies and art. It was fun reading how director Martin Scorcese caught him off guard by citing Kind Hearts and Coronets as an inspiration for Goodfellas. Then Schama had to scramble to give himself a crash course in horror film history when Scorcese described his other inspirations over the years.

One thought-provoking essay was about Richard Avedon's photographs. Although the book includes some illustrations to go with the art essays, Schama talked about several photographs that weren't included. His descriptions were so vivid that I had to find the images online to see for myself. They really were fascinating, and now I have become an Avedon fan, thanks to Schama.

Schama mentioned a few times in his food essays that he used Julia Child's book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I just read a book of letters between Child and her friend and editor, Avis DeVoto (As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto), in which they discuss at length the details of the book that Child was writing. The idea was to translate French recipes into recipes that would work in American kitchens with ingredients available in America using American appliances. Schama, cooking in an English kitchen, must have had to translate the recipes yet again to accommodate English ingredients and appliances. I can imagine how many ways this could have gone wrong, but Schama seems to have succeeded.

Schama manages to be educational, infuriating, amusing, thought-provoking, and just plain interesting. Recommended!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Recommending Schama November 13, 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Simon Schama's Scribble, Scribble, Scribble is an excellent collection of newspaper articles on various subjects. From traveling, Sail Away: Six Days to New York on the Queen Mary 2 published in the New Yorker, 31 May 2004 to cooking, My Mother's Kitchen Observer Food Magazine, 11 October 2009 his insight and humor make this a delightful and refreshing book.
Schama was selected as the honored guest at the fifth annual Kenyon Review Literary Festival.He was the recipient of the 2011 Kenyon Review Award for Literay Achievement.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
A Literary Menagerie August 17, 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Historian Simon Schama has a wide range of interests and a flowing pen which combine beautifully and to great effect in his latest book, a collection of articles and book reviews spanning three decades. Whether you are interested in art, history, travel, cooking, or politics, it's all here in Schama's wonderfuly descriptive and award-winning style. Here's to hoping there's a second collection in the works!
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