“Half memoir, half travel, A Yank Back to England...is an absolutely wonderful book, not only about going home again but also about love and family and tradition and the passage of the years.”
—Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize-winning literary critic (Washington
Post)
To see the entire quote, click here.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

"And one staircase going nowhere, just for show..."

As our room was not ready, we decided to explore. The staircases went up and went down at various levels and ended in totally different locations. Most odd. The bedrooms – those we could peer into – were not uniform in size, and neither were the public lounges. The walls were dotted with photo portraits of the hotel’s original owners, dressed in formal dinner wear, outfitted for country walks with Norfolk jackets, casually resplendent for tea, or in gauntlets and flat hats, roaring to go for daring trips by horseless carriage.

5 comments:

Carol Murdock said...

And...where was this place again?

The Prodigal Tourist said...

This was the Royal Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells--a fabulous, huge old building with lots of corridors, and staircases! We should add some more Prodigal Footsteps links, we've been remiss about that lately...

Rebecca A Emrich said...

In reply: You know I'll of course be reviewing your book. No doubt about that! contact me anytime if you need more details =)

Robynn's Ravings said...

Greetings! Saw your comment on Willow's site about Julie & Julia and wanted to encourage you not to let the book ruin the movie for you.

(Oh my word.....I never dreamed in my wildest those words would form on my lips. It's usually the complete reversal.)

The book was just as you describe. Hollywood must have known we wouldn't fall in love with her on screen if that's what she offered so they sweetened her up and softened her. The movie is DEAR, and WONDERFUL. The book is atrocious. Just thought you might want to know from someone who has seen it twice. :)

Maggie said...

What a wonderful tease! Love it!