The compendium of texts examines a literary perspective on the role and character of art and artists observed as major or incidental settings or characters. The anthology traces a chronology and context of art in fiction to examine how the perception of the artist developed as magician – bohemian – outsider – visionary – courtier – businessman – or good-for-nothing. Cover of first edition, 1932Ī survey of the artist in fiction that explores the development of literary archetypes for art and artists as observed by writers in novels, poetry, theatre and film. Two thousand culture fans gassed with dichlorethyl sulphide.’Īldous Huxley, 1894-1963. ‘Then came the famous British Museum Massacre. Whisk, Passion whisk, Requiem whisk, Symphony whisk … Whisk, the cathedrals whisk, whisk, King Lear and the Thoughts of Pascal. Whisk–the place where Italy had been was empty. Whisk–and where was Odysseus, where was Job, where were Jupiter and Gotama and Jesus? Whisk–and those specks of antique dirt called Athens and Rome, Jerusalem and the Middle Kingdom–all were gone. He waved his hand and it was as though, with an invisible feather wisk, he had brushed away a little dust, and the dust was Harappa, was Ur of the Chaldees some spider-webs, and they were Thebes and Babylon and Cnossos and Mycenae. “You all remember,” said the Controller, in his strong deep voice, “you all remember, I suppose, that beautiful and inspired saying of Our Ford’s: History is bunk.

A brave new world art