Wednesday, May 18, 2016

What Is Your Muse?


What is your muse? We are all compelled by something. It may be great books, art, design, fashion, film, history, an influential personality, great writer, artist, or entrepreneur. Charlotte Moss writes in her new book Garden Inspirations that the garden is her greatest muse. She brings it into her life wherever she can. The garden informs and enriches her surroundings. It influences her aesthetic as a decorator. She is inspired by the great women gardeners throughout history: Vita Sackville-West, Edith Wharton and Beatrix Farrand, to name a few. To read her beautiful new book is to learn how one's woman passion has affected her entire life.

I began to think about mine. I have always believed that a place can be a muse and there is no question that I have a love affair with England. Its writers, artists, history, castles, cathedrals, great houses and landscape have inspired me since I was in college and spent six years reading English novels and poetry. Those books became part of me. They affected my entire life and inspired my love of great books and excellent writing. It is a passion that continues today.

I remember my first trip to England and visiting the places that filled my imagination. I saw the landscapes, the gardens, the little villages, the pubs, the monuments, the pageantry and the historic sites I had been reading about for years. I had a proper English tea, the kind that seemed to occur in all my favorite novels. I discovered London, the setting for so many of my favorite books and it was a revelation. A modern bustling city with beautiful parks and green spaces and a thousand-year old history lurking around every corner if you took the time to look. And there was the glorious countryside. Right out of a novel by Thomas Hardy or a poem by William Wordsworth. My goal was to walk on country lanes, have tea and scones, poke around little villages, and read in rustic settings just as all of my favorite heroines had done. On that first trip I made a special point of visiting as many writers' houses as I could. Seeing the objects that surrounded them was thrilling.

Over the years I have brought home many memories and souvenirs from my trips to England. Even on my very first trip, when I was living on $5.00 a day, I was collecting post cards from my favorite museums. I went to Fortnum and Mason and bought two cups and saucers by Wedgewood, little realizing this was the beginning of a china obsession. And then there were the books. I discovered bookstores like Hatchards, a heavenly place for any book lover. I didn't mind buying new editions of books I already had since the cover art was so different and often more beautiful. I still go to Hatchards, Heywood Hill, John Sandoe and Persephone Books on each and every trip and browse in utter contentment.

When my husband and I traveled together to England for the first time we stumbled upon a book fair in London. Bloomsbury was already a passion of mine and I was thrilled to find a little book of poetry by E.M. Forster that had been published by Virginia and Leonard Woolf. It was my first Hogarth Press book. When we traveled to Lewes in Sussex to look for Virginia Woolf's house, we wandered into a little gallery where we found a drawing by Duncan Grant. Those two purchases were so exciting. And so it began... books fill our bookcases, images of favorite writers decorate my study, and art hangs on our walls. Tea pots, cups and saucers peek out of the cabinets in the kitchen. All memories and reminders of a love of England.

But the greatest reward I gained from all that reading and those visits to England was a love of the written word. Books are my passion. Over the years I've discovered many writers to add to my list of favorites: Nancy Mitford, E.F. Benson, Barbara Pym, Jane Gardam, E.M. Delafield, Angela Thirkell, Elizabeth Taylor and Isabel Colegate, just to name a few. They inspire me with their words and stories and motivate me to write something of my own. Great art can inspire personal dreams. That's the thing about a muse -- if you keep an open mind, it will lead you towards creative fulfillment.

 I would love to know what is your muse?
And, are you an Anglophile?

24 comments:

  1. What an interesting question to think about....I'll have to do that and come back with my answer. But yes, definitely an Anglophile over a Francophile. I love the aesthetic of all things English, and actually love London more than Paris. I feel more "me" and at home there, although of course I love to visit Paris as well. I've always been drawn to English country clothing, decoration, gardens, architecture, art, and literature, etc. I'll will think about the muse thing and come back and comment again. Thanks for such an inspirational post.

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    1. I also love English films and television...

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  2. I come to your blog with anticipation each week because I am an Anglophile. I, too, was a literature major and read my way through life since primary school. There is no period of England that I do not devour in books and plays. A group of friends are going to a trip in few weeks where they will tour he countryside and visit as many writer's homes as possible. They are all painters and intend to set upo their easels. I am very jealous as I have never been to England yet. Next time. I also share your love of gardens, the color pink, and blue and white china and pottery. I blogged for over ten years and now I am on a long hiatus due to work issues, but plan to come back. Thank you for your lovely blog.

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    1. Loretta, thank you so much for your lovely comment. I look forward to reading your blog when you begin again! Your friends' trip sounds wonderful and I hope you are able to visit England sometime soon. In the meantime, there's a wonderful book "A Fine Romance" by Susan Branch about her love of the English countryside that I think you would enjoy.

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    2. Yes, it is a wonderful book. My friends' trip is based on the tour Susan Branch took. Divine!

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  3. I've been thinking about muse, what inspires creativity in me, and I can't think of anything other than me? I've always had an inner need to create, to paint, sculpt, cook, design, rearrange things, etc. I get inspiration from books, paintings, film....but the actual urge comes from somewhere deep within myself.

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  4. Yes! I am an Anglophile, as you know. And you hit all my favorite British authors except that I am not familiar with Isabel Colegate--I will look her up. I recently came across some short videos I think you would enjoy--Kit Kemp talking about style and the interiors she has designed for her hotels, the Firmdale Hotels: https://www.firmdalehotels.com/a/kit-kemp-design-collections/a-series-of-short-films-by-kit-kemp/

    I had no plans for visit to London this year until I just booked a Mediterranean cruise for October--on our return we are going to stopover in London for a day and a night before returning home. No specific plans other than to wander the streets of London stopping at favorite shops--cannot wait!

    English gardens and interiors are definitely my muse--thanks for a fun post, Sunday.

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    1. Kim, I can't thank you enough for letting me know about the Kit Kemp videos. I just watched the one on the drawing room at the Charlotte Street Hotel where she is talking about the Bloomsbury influence in her design. I can't wait to visit this hotel when I'm in London. And yes, I know you are a fellow Anglophile!

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  5. My muse is also a place! It's not England, but Italy. I truly love that Italians are passionate, that they elevate the everyday and always put their best foot forward. This place inspires how I decorate my home and live my life. The warm colors, art, language, food, coffee, wine, beauty, and authenticity of il bel paese all impact my day-to-day dolce vita and inspire my creativity.

    I know that you also love Italy and would like for you to know that I adore your blog. Plus, your Instagram is probably my favorite one to follow. Grazie!

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    1. Michelle, I also love Italy and understand how it inspires you! It really does offer lessons on living well! Italy is one of my favorite places in the world and I would love to see more of it. Thanks so much you for your kind words!

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  6. I'm absolutely an Anglophile. My love of all things British probably began when I first read Jane Austen and has only grown from here. I was going to mention Susan Branch's A Fine Romance, but I see that you already have above. The trip she writes about in that book sounds like a dream and had be vicariously checking cruise dates on the Cunard website!

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    1. Yes, Jane Austen could easily start a love affair with England. I'm so glad you have read Susan Branch's book. Isn't it wonderful!

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  7. I have also been thinking about the creative muse. Thank you for sharing yours. Your joy in the written word is beautifully fulfilled in your own writing.

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    1. Gail, I imagine you are frequently in touch with your muse based on your beautiful paintings! xx

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  8. Am I an Anglophile?
    Surely you don't have to ask.
    xoxo

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    1. Pamela, yes of course you are! It's one of the many things we have in common! xxx

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  9. THAT is a VERY GOOD QUESTION.I do not know who my MUSE would be.I too adore the GARDEN and tend to bring the OUTSIDE indoors.I have TO THINK about this............
    I Love ENGLAND with all it's royalty and HISTORY.
    YES,to that question!

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    1. It's fun to think about, isn't it? Your garden is beautiful and I always love seeing your photos of it!

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  10. Sunday, A wonderful post and question. I'm not for certain who or what is my muse, but I know when she is with me, and when I have neglected her and she has disappeared.

    Enjoy the weekend. Hugs!



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  11. In 1996, Bantam Press published ‘Simple Abundance’ by Sarah Ban Breathnach. Now, 20 years later, I am taking up the challenge of reading each day's 'gentle lesson' and attempting to act on her advice. I liked your blog so much that I mentioned it in my blog ‘Simple Abundance in France’. Please have a look at it on http://gringaba.wix.com/literature-blog and let me have your comments. Also, if you like it, please tell your friends as I want to reach a wider audience. Thank you. (p.s there I have recommended a book/film you might like on today’s post, if you haven't already found it for yourself!)

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  12. Janet, what a wonderful idea for a blog. And I am honored that you mentioned me. I can't wait to take a look at your blog!

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    1. I live in England and I think I'm a bit of an Americaphile! I love American fiction and intend to visit Concord one day to see where Louisa M Alcott wrote Little Women and I'd also like to see Baltimore where Anne Tyler sets all her novels! Thought-provoking post, Sunday.

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