Personal Pleasures av Rose Macaulay

Personal Pleasures is an anthology of 80 short essays (some of them very short) about the things the feminist critic and nivelist Rose Macaulay enjoyed most in life. The complete list consists of:AbroadAlbumArm-ChairAstronomyBakery in the NightBathing1 Off the Florida Keys2 Off the Ligurian Coast3 In the CamBed1 Getting into it2 Not getting out of itBelievingBird in the BoxBook AuctionsBooksellers’ CataloguesBullsCandlemasCanoeingChasing FirefliesChristmas MorningChurch-going1. Anglican2. Roman Catholic3. Quaker4. UnitarianCinemaClothesCowsDeparture of VisitorsDisbelievingDoves in the ChimneyDriving a CarEaster in the WoodsEating and DrinkingElephants in BloomsburyFastest on EarthFinishing a BookFire EnginesFlatteryFlower Shop in the NightFlyingFollowing the FashionFraternalGetting RidHatching EggsHeresiesHot BathIgnorance1. Of one’s neighbours2. Of current literature3. Of gossip4. Of wickedness5. Of one’s pass-bookImproving the DictionaryListening InLogomachyMeals Out1 On the roof2 On the pavementNew Year’s EveNot Going to PartiesPartiesPlay-GoingPretty CreaturesReadingShopping AbroadShowing OffSolitudeSundayTaking UmbrageTalking about a New CarTelling Travellers’ TalesTurtles in Hyde ParkWalkingWritingWhile each essay can be read on its own as a short dose of delicious writing, the collection is also an autobiographical selection, revealing glimpses of Rose’s own life, and making us laugh helplessly with her inimitable humour.