The acquisition of John Fowles’s desk – complete with uneaten sweet – by the Harry Ransom Center, may tell us about the way ahead for literary archives When I was growing up in Dorset, not far from ” Casterbridge ” , I went through a Hardy phase, reading everything from Under The Greenwood Tree to The Dynasts , his verse play, set in the Napoleonic wars. Briefly, yes, I became quite obsessed. Anyway, the county museum in Dorchester became a kind of shrine to my devotion. Somewhere in the depths of its gloomy, hushed interior was a replica of the writer’s study with his desk, his pens and inkpot, his pince-nez spectacles; in fact, all the things he left behind at his death (from pleurisy) in 1928. Next to his books (rows of leather-bound Macmillan editions) the bric-a-brac on Hardy’s desk became the real focus of my interest, a vivid window onto the solitude and silence of the writer’s life in old age. The Dorset County Museum, which still celebrates the accumulated treasures of one of England’s richest counties, flashed into mind last Friday when the Harry Ransom Center in Texas announced its acquisition of John Fowles’s writing desk, to be exhibited to the world on the writer’s 85th birthday. Fowles was not a Dorset native like Hardy, but he lived for many years on the coast at Lyme Regis. He died in 2005, after a series of strokes. For the archivists of Texas, the appeal of Fowles’s desk (they already have his manuscripts) is that they can exhibit its contents : the single Tic Tac mint, the silver fountain pen and the spare HMV gramophone player needles. There’s also a plastic typewriter ribbon canister containing seeds and petals and a note “Nicotinia 1963″, which presumably derives from the years Fowles worked on The Magus. I’m not sure that any of this leaves us any the wiser about Fowles but it does underline something about the future of libraries and literary museums. In the age of the laptop, ebook and memory stick, it will be the non-literary artefacts that will attract attention. There’s even the beginnings of an academic discipline emerging around such material. See, for instance, Sam Gosling’s “Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You” . It’s true that great archives like the Harry Ransom (and the Bodleian) do boast departments whose function is to curate writers’ discarded hard drives. However, compared to the great manuscripts of the past, this is dull, unrevealing stuff. Perhaps the future lies with brass knuckles, dried seeds and fossilised Tic Tacs. Thomas Hardy John Fowles Fiction Heritage Robert McCrum guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
Been there readers have taken March’s theme, Wild, and run with it. Here are the pick of the entries
Continue reading …
Lack of black and Asian faces in both legislatures strengthens case for positive action, campaigners believe Despite being set up to empower and involve the people of Scotland and Wales, both their devolved legislatures have been slow to include the countries’ ethnic minorities. On this count at least, they have been arguably weaker than Westminster. Despite having at least 170,000 people from an Asian, black or mixed race background among its electorate – 4% of the Scottish population – Holyrood has only ever had one non-white MSP elected, four years ago. The Welsh assembly too, despite Cardiff’s long history of black settlement and having an overall minority ethnic population of roughly 100,000 people across Wales – at least 3% of the population – first had a minority ethnic member elected in 2007. In both legislatures there is a black democratic deficit, said Ashok Viswanathan, deputy director of the campaign organisation Operation Black Vote (OBV). He believes the case is now strengthening for positive action to promote ethnic minority candidates in both places, including all-black shortlists. Both legislatures originally took steps to ensure gender equality, but not for ethnic minorities. “There’s no reason why they can’t introduce positive action programmes for ethnic minorities,” Viswanathan said. He said there should be “some way of opening the gateways in the corridors of decision-making, raising confidence, giving people the skills and knowledge so they can play a full and positive role in the democratic process”. In all, there are at least 22 minority ethnic candidates seeking election to Holyrood and Cardiff Bay for the five main parties – Labour, the Tories, the Scottish National party or Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens – but only a small number are likely to be elected. However, in contrast to the Scottish parliament, the Welsh assembly has put in place measures to combat that under-representation. It has a mentoring programme for minority ethnic candidates with OBV. Two of the Welsh candidates on 5 May, Liz Musa for Plaid Cymru and Mari Rees for Labour, came through that shadowing scheme. Bashir Ahmed, Scotland’s only non-white MSP, was elected in 2007 as a list candidate for the SNP but his Holyrood career was shortlived. A senior member of Glasgow’s large Pakistani community, he died in early 2009 to be replaced by a white SNP activist who was next on the party list. The SNP has worked the hardest of the Scottish parties to build up its minority ethnic links and profile, particularly in Glasgow, in a deliberate effort to show that it does not stand for ethnic nationalism but also to build up a new constituency in a city controlled by its main rival, Labour. Of all the parties, the SNP has selected the only minority ethnic candidate with a very strong chance of being elected next month: Humza Yousaf, a former aide to Alex Salmond and to Ahmed at the Scottish parliament. He is also on the Glasgow regional list, second to the SNP’s deputy leader, Nicola Sturgeon. Labour has set up its own informal minority ethnic “shadowing” project with councillors, MSPs and MPs in Edinburgh, and is standing seven candidates across Scotland. But apart from Yousaf, few of the 16 other minority ethnic candidates have strong chances of winning seats: they are in unwinnable constituencies or too low on regional lists. And of all the 17 minority ethnic candidates in Scotland, only two are women and neither is in a strong position, raising additional questions about how representative Holyrood can claim to be. In Wales, three of the five minority ethnic candidates so far named are women. Additional reporting by Paris Gourtsoyannis and Jennifer McClure Scotland Wales Race issues Equality Scottish National Party (SNP) Plaid Cymru Welsh Assembly Government Liberal Democrats Green party Scottish politics Welsh politics Severin Carrell guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
Policy Exchange report comes as No 10 prepares natural break in legislation to decide what changes should be made to bill One of the thinktanks closest to Downing Street is to tell David Cameron to slow the pace of health reforms to ensure GPs feel comfortable in their new role. The advice, in a report from Policy Exchange , comes as No 10 prepares a natural break in the legislation to decide what changes should be made to the bill. The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, launched a scathing attack on the reforms and their handling by Downing Street, including horse-trading between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. The report, entitled Implementing GP Commissioning, suggests the health and social care bill’s proposals to abolish every primary care trust (PCT) by 2013 “could lead to the new structure simply replicating the existing system in all but name”. It is based on interviews with the GP leaders or managers of 16 “pathfinder” consortiums, and with other experts. Its findings will add pressure on Cameron to rethink how he sells the reforms and whether they should go ahead at the pace planned, given the growing hostility from GPs. Some of the Policy Exchange ideas would require radical recasting of commissioning. The study concedes that “the government has lost many potential supporters inside and outside the NHS”, and blames the Department of Health for not winning over GPs. It also questions “whether GPs have the necessary skills to run such highly complex operations before the transition to GP commissioning takes places”. Eve Norridge, the lead author of the report, said: “There are many GPs who have the potential to become highly successful commissioners. It would be a loss to everyone, especially patients, if the policy were discredited due to overly hasty implementation. “Ministers need to address GPs’ concerns before loading such huge new responsibilities on their shoulders. “The danger is that GPs take part so reluctantly in the new scheme that it ends up replicating the existing model rather than becoming the new and innovative system the government desires.” The Department of Health has insisted that applications to join the pathfinder projects show real support for the ideas contained in the bill, but others argue that GPs have merely bowed to what they regard as the inevitable. The interviews suggest: • Not abolishing primary care trusts too quickly. PCTs are struggling to deal with the transition because good staff are increasingly leaving, knowing their organisations are set to be abolished in two years’ time. The subsequent loss of expertise is creating a vacuum that is deterring many GPs from trying new and innovative ideas under the new system. • An end to micromanagement. The authors argue that “many GPs are worried about the size of the new commissioning board and whether a culture of bureaucracy is really ending”. The research found some had been pushed into large groups against their will. Others are “facing pressure to employ ex-PCT staff, regardless of whether they are the best people for the job”. • Bringing commissioning decisions much closer to patients. The report says: “This is one of the key aims of the policy, but it is under threat. GP consortia need to be much smaller than existing PCTs. Current projections for the size of GP consortia mean that commissioning could be no closer to patients than it was in 2002.” • A lack of clarification about the framework and terms under which external support providers might operate. • An absence of trust in the new system. The report says: “It is crucial that patients have absolute trust in their GPs if the new system is going to work. Consortia and their GPs should have to declare any hospitality or gifts they receive from providers of NHS care. “The regulator will need to ensure that information is widely available to mitigate against the conflict of interests between GPs’ roles as providers and commissioners of services.” David Cameron Health policy Conservatives Liberal Democrats Health NHS Doctors GPs Patrick Wintour guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
Fourth straight day of demonstrations in Afghanistan cities after burning of holy book by Terry Jones’ church Protests have continued in Afghanistan against a Florida pastor’s burning of the Qur’an, prompting four straight days of demonstrations against the destruction of Islam’s holy book. The protest in eastern Laghman province briefly threatened to turn into another melee as about 300 protesters brandished sticks and threw stones at police, who in turned started firing shots in the air. Anger flared in Alingar district with the crowd moved towards the provincial capital of Mihtarlam, where they clashed with officers, said GeneralAbdul Aziz Gharanai, the provincial police chief. However, protesters dispersed as officers started firing warning shots and no one was wounded, Gharanai said. At least 21 people have been killed over three days of protests across the country. The violence started after the burning of the Qur’an by a Florida church on 20
Continue reading …Fourth straight day of demonstrations in Afghanistan cities after burning of holy book by Terry Jones’ church Protests have continued in Afghanistan against a Florida pastor’s burning of the Qur’an, prompting four straight days of demonstrations against the destruction of Islam’s holy book. The protest in eastern Laghman province briefly threatened to turn into another melee as about 300 protesters brandished sticks and threw stones at police, who in turned started firing shots in the air. Anger flared in Alingar district with the crowd moved towards the provincial capital of Mihtarlam, where they clashed with officers, said GeneralAbdul Aziz Gharanai, the provincial police chief. However, protesters dispersed as officers started firing warning shots and no one was wounded, Gharanai said. At least 21 people have been killed over three days of protests across the country. The violence started after the burning of the Qur’an by a Florida church on 20
Continue reading …
Artist’s assistants and wife released by authorities but his whereabouts undisclosed by Beijing authorities Ai Weiwei, China’s best-known artist, remains missing more than a day after he was detained . Police have confiscated dozens of items from his studio. Officers released his wife and several assistants late last night, following questioning, but Ai and a friend remain uncontactable. Assistants said that police removed more than 30 computers and hard drives from his studio and home in north Beijing on Sunday, as well as notebooks and documents. They also searched at least two more properties connected to the artist. The scope of the police operation, and the fact that the artist was detained at Beijing airport on Sunday morning – not merely turned away from his flight, as had happened before – has increased the concern of friends. Officials had also visited his studio three times in the week before his detention. “There is no news of him so far,” Ai’s wife, Lu Qing, told the Associated Press. “They asked me about Ai Weiwei’s work and the articles he posted online … I told them that everything that Ai did was very public, and if they wanted to know his opinions and work they could just look at the internet.” She said police gave no indication of her husband’s whereabouts or why he was being held. She added that his mother, who is in her 80s, was very anxious about her son’s fate. Beijing police told the Guardian they knew nothing of Ai or the other missing man, Wen Tao. An airport police spokesman said he had no obligation to give out information. Although the 53-year-old artist has repeatedly clashed with authorities due to his outspoken criticism of the government, he was thought to enjoy greater latitude than most thanks to his father’s status as a revered poet and his own high international profile. He also helped to design the Olympic Bird’s Nest stadium. Ai created last year’s Sunflower Seeds installation at the Tate Modern turbine hall. His exhibition at the Lisson Gallery in London is due to open next month, shortly after his recreation of a Chinese zodiac sculpture is unveiled at the courtyard in Somerset House. In an interview last year , asked about the possibility of retribution from the authorities, he told the Guardian: “I have to deal with it, but not to prepare for it, because it is a kind of stupidity. If you prepare for it too much, you become a part of it.” His detention comes amid a widespread crackdown on activists and dissidents in the country, which has seen more than 20 people criminally detained, three formally arrested for incitement to subversion and a dozen go missing. “It is getting worse and worse. Ai Weiwei is a very influential figure … [If] even people like him are taken away, it gives a very bad sign to other human rights defenders and netizens [socially concerned internet users],” said Patrick Poon, the executive secretary of the China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group. Five well known human rights lawyers are among those missing since February and Poon said it had now emerged that another one, Liu Zhengqing, was taken away on 24 March. Liu had been travelling for several weeks and friends lost contact with him when he returned to his home in Guangzhou. Poon said it was unclear why he was held, but that it might be related to his agreement to represent one of the lawyers who had already gone missing. Ai Weiwei China Art Tania Branigan guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
Up to 300 ewes are lambing at Barracks Farm in Fetcham, Surrey – a family business for more than 250 years
Continue reading …
PC Simon Harwood, the police officer who pushed Ian Tomlinson to the ground at the G20 protests two years ago, gives evidence at the newspaper seller’s inquest 9.39am: We’re about to start the fifth and potentially most dramatic day of the inquest into Ian Tomlinson’s death. PC Simon Harwood, the police officer who struck Tomlinson with a baton and shoved him to the ground moments before his death, will shortly attempt to justify his actions to a jury. You can already tell the mood is tense here. The front and back entrance to inquest venue at 70 Fleet Street are surrounded by press photographs and police. This will be Harwood’s first public appearance since he was captured on film lunging at Tomlinson, who had his hands in his pockets and his back to the office. It will also be the first time he comes face to face with Tomlinson’s widow and nine children, most of whom are in the room. Harwood had a balaclava covering his face and his badge numbers were not showing when he encountered Tomlinson around 7.20pm on April 1 2009. He only came forward to admit the assault a week later, after the Guardian released footage clearly showing him striking Tomlinson. In July last year, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute Harwood for manslaughter – although that decision could be reversed. When the inquest is over, Harwood will face a Metropolitan police disciplinary panel, but for the time being, and for the purposes of today’s proceedings, he remains a Met officer, suspended on full pay. Here is a quick recap of important developments in the inquest so far: Day 1 : The inquest opened last Tuesday with the senior judge presiding over proceedings, Peter Thornton QC, telling the jury that neither Harwood or the Met were “on trial”. He predicted that an issue of “controversy” was likely to be divergent medical evidence given by three different pathologists. Dr Freddy Patel, who conducted the first postmortem examination, concluded Tomlinsond died of a heart attack. Dr Nat Cary and Dr Kenneth Shorrock found he died of internal bleeding. Day 2: The jury heard how Harwood was a van driver in the Territorial Support Group (TSG) who had strayed from his post without the knowledge of his supervising officer before his encounter with Tomlinson. It emerged that Tomlinson may have been the last of a handful of protesters and bystanders to become embroiled with Harwood, who minutes earlier was caught on CCTV engaging in scuffles with a protester and possibly dragging a press cameraman to the ground. Day 3: The New York investment fund manager who shot the crucial footage of Harwood’s assault of Tomlinson and handed the material to the Guardian described seeing the newspaper vendor being “violently shoved”. He said Tomlinson was “not being confrontation at all” moments before the attack . Earlier, another police officer described the moment Harwood saw footage of the attack on television. “PC Harwood was sitting next to me and his reaction was, ‘My God that’s me’”, said his colleague PC Alex Jackman. “I thought he was joking.” Day 4: In arguably one of the most significant developments, a police officer who spoke to Tomlinson seconds before he was struck by Harwood said it was clear he was not a demonstrator and he “posed no threat”. PC Kerry Smith also said she was “shocked by the forcefulness of the push” to Tomlinson. Smith spoke to Tomlinson as he tried to get through a police cordon on Royal Exchange Buildings as he tried to get home. She said she had expected to see blood after seeing Tomlinson propelled to the ground a few feet in front of her. Ian Tomlinson Police G20 Protest London Paul Lewis guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
Eighteen-year-old from Streatham held by police after arrests of two other suspects over weekend A third man has been arrested in connection with the shooting of five-year-old Thusha Kamaleswaran. The 18-year-old was arrested on Sunday and taken to a south London police station, where he remains in custody, Scotland Yard said. He is also being held in connection with the shooting of 35-year-old Roshan Selvakumar in the incident at a shop in Stockwell, south London. Last week, Thusha’s mother urged people to help the police and save another family from suffering the same tragedy. Sharmila Kamaleswaran said what had happened to her daughter had left her feeling empty inside. “This incident has caused much shock for me and my family,” she said. “As any mother, I have deep love for all my children and what has happened to my daughter Thusha has left me feeling empty inside. “I cannot eat or sleep properly until she opens her eyes. “My daughter Thusha is such a sweet, quiet and helpful child, always smiling and laughing. I cannot wait to hear her voice again and hold her. “I thank everyone who is praying for her. I ask for any person who knows about those responsible for this to come forward and speak to the police. I do not wish this to happen to another family.” She spoke as a man was remanded in custody charged with two counts of attempted murder following the double shooting. Anthony McCalla, 19, Streatham, south London, will appear next at the Old Bailey on 10 June. He appeared at Camberwell Green magistrates court on Saturday charged with shooting the little girl and Selvakumar. McCalla, wearing a brown and white striped top and blue jeans, listened intently during the 15-minute hearing and spoke only to give his name, address and date of birth. District Judge Sue Green refused an application for bail. On Friday night, a 14-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the shootings was bailed to a date later this month. Relatives are maintaining vigils at Thusha’s hospital bedside while detectives build up a “continuity trail” of the attackers’ movements. Police said both victims remained in a “serious but stable” condition. Gun crime Crime London guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …