Soltalk March 2020 | Page 47

BookTalk The Great Exhibition is being constructed. Among the watching crowd, two people meet. For Iris, the aspiring artist, the encounter is forgotten within seconds. But for Silas, a collector entranced by the strange and beautiful, the meeting marks a new beginning. When Iris is asked to model for pre-Raphaelite artist Louis Frost, she agrees on the condition that he will teach her to paint. Suddenly her world begins to expand, to become a place of art and love. producers and farmers throughout Palestine. Romania also gets a rare look-in through Carpathia (l), by Irina Georgescu. This features dishes from the heart of this melting pot of a country, which is rooted in many cultures: Greek, Turkish and Slavic in the south and east; and, Austrian, Hungarian and Saxon in the north and west. Romania’s bold and delicious cuisine amalgamates all its cultural influences. Georgescu introduces us to this fusion while also exploring the country’s history, landscape and traditions through food. Heads up, rock music lovers and fans of the Boomtown Rats! Tales Of Boomtown Glory (l), by Sir Bob Geldof, features an introduction and 28 essays by the band’s frontman, and lyrics to 188 songs, including unreleased material. The lyrics also encompass those from the new Citizens Of Boomtown album, which is out this month. Among this month’s new cookbooks, we note Falastin (l), by Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley, who describe it as ‘a love letter to Palestine, the land and its people’. It contains more than 110 recipes and stories. It mixes traditional and contemporary dishes, though all are fitting for a modern home kitchen. Some of the dishes are inspired by Sami and Tara’s collaborations with Among new and revised guidebooks is Northern Spain (l) in Dorling Kindersley’s (DK) Eyewitness series. It featured DK’s much-loved maps and illustrations, walks and information, plus all new, full-colour photography. Key: (p) paperback (l) hardback/large paperback depending on availability. 4 5 4 5