Trusty Servant May 2021 Issue 131 | Page 33

No . 131 The Trusty Servant
The same author has also produced 19 th Century Winchester Notion Book Illustrations , exploring the often amusing illustrations in handwritten notions books , over 60 examples of which exist in the school ’ s collection , the earliest dating to 1838 . 136 pages ; independently published ; ISBN 979-8672371382 .
Ian McHaffie has written Greek Secrets Revealed : Winchester , exploring the Greek inscriptions of the Cathedral and College , from Dr Warton ’ s monument by Flaxman to the plaque describing the 2007 extension to Chambers in College . 36 pages ; independently published . Email mchaffie1 @ icloud . com .
The colourful life of Frank Russell , 2 nd Earl Russell ( E , 1879-83 ) is explored in a new book by Ruth Derham , Bertrand ’ s Brother . The grandson of Prime Minister Lord John Russell and elder brother of the philosopher Bertrand , Frank was a radical political reformer and outspoken self-determined moralist : a serial adulterer , tried for bigamy in the House of Lords , who , as a young man , had been sent down from Oxford for supposed homosexual practices . His cause célèbre was reported alongside the famous case of Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas ( H , 1884-88 ). This , the first biography , produces a portrait of a man vulnerable yet hubristic , well-meaning yet often offensive ; a free-thinker yet an aristocrat . 352 pages ; Amberley Publishing ; ISBN 978-1398102835 .
Statesman of Europe , a new biography of Sir Edward Grey ( C , 1876-80 ), has been written by Thomas Otte . The book rescues Grey , the Liberal Foreign Secretary at the outbreak of the First World War , from the hands of the revisionists who have dubbed him ( in Otte ’ s characterisation ) ‘ a priggish Wykehamist who , through incompetence and obstinacy , made Great Politics more rigid and drove Britain into an unnecessary war .’ Grey is shown instead as a dutiful and principled statesman in volatile times , striving to the utmost in his doomed effort to maintain peace . 896 pages ; Allen Lane ; ISBN 978-0241413364 .
Paul Williams ( Co Ro , 77-03 ) has written a novel . Blight tells the story of three disparate families , one Spanish , two English , linked by the friendships and hostilities of their children , a Spanish boy called José Mari and two English girls who all attend 6 th Form together at their English boarding school . The narrative jumps between their schooling from 2001-2002 , and their adult lives in Spain in 2020 , highlighting how past behaviours can direct the course of tragedy . It ’ s an intriguing story of blighted love , dark secrets , dubious morals , and the terrible tragedy of a young life cut short , told with compassion and unexpected humour . 307 pages ; Amazon ; ISBN 979-8568253389 .
David Lorimer ( Co Ro , 80-86 ) has published a collection of 25 high acclaimed essays , entitled A Quest for Wisdom . Perceptive and illuminating , they examine the nature of life and death , questions of meaning and purpose , and the challenge of how we can live more harmoniously together . David hopes that readers will be inspired , as Dr Albert Schweitzer put it , in our common task ‘ to become more finely and deeply human .’ Among those warmly endorsing the book are three Collegemen : Harry Bingham ( Coll , 80-84 ), Professor Ben Morison ( Coll , 82-87 ) and Andrew Clover ( Coll , 83-88 ). 354 pages ; Aeon Books ; ISBN 978-1913504762 .
Laurence Wolff ( Co Ro , 82-17 ) will be having an exhibition of his new paintings at Burgh House , Hampstead in London from 13-18 July 2021 . Further details : Instagram @ laurencewolffstudio
Bosie Composing
One of our Fellows recently came across a book by AL Irvine , called College in the Nineties , in which there is mention of Lord Alfred Douglas having set to music a poem by Lionel Johnson , ( Coll , 1880-86 ). This was performed at the Winchester College Glee Club in July 1893 . Our archivist has found the poem , ‘ Country singers , leave not mute ’, but we have drawn a complete blank as regards Douglas ’ s manuscript score . If anyone has further information , please contact the Headmaster ( hm @ wincoll . ac . uk ).
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