"Schama is a masterful stylist and storyteller."
--Boston Globe"A writer of gorgeous prose."
--Washington PostThe ever erudite, always delightfully curious Simon Schama returns with Scribble, Scribble, Scribble, a wonderful compendium of thirty provocative, witty, enlightening, and stimulating essays previously published but collected in a single volume for the first time. One of our most distinguished historians and commentators, Schama, the acclaimed author of The American Future: A History, explores an amazing diversity of topics--from the political to the personal, from the earth-shaking to the mundane, from ice cream to Churchill to Hurricane Katrina and everything in-between. In Scribble, Scribble, Scribble, Simon Schama opens up his--and our--wide world to us.
This landmark collection showcases Schama's celebrated historical insight on subjects including:
- Witty Cultural Commentary: From the taste of ice cream to the art of Rubens, Schama connects the seemingly mundane to the magnificent with his signature erudition and humor.
- Provocative History: Revisit pivotal moments and towering figures, including a fresh look at Winston Churchill and the American Civil War through the eyes of a master storyteller.
- Intimate Personal Essays: A surprisingly personal look into the author's own world, including unforgettable reflections on his mother's kitchen and a six-day journey on the Queen Mary 2.
- Incisive Political Analysis: Sharp, on-the-ground reporting and reflection on defining events of our time, from the tragedy of 9/11 to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
About the Author :
Simon Schama is University Professor of Art History and History at Columbia University in New York. His award-winning books include Scribble, Scribble, Scribble; The American Future: A History; National Book Critics Circle Award winner Rough Crossings; The Power of Art; The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age; Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution; Dead Certainties (Unwarranted Speculations); Landscape and Memory; Rembrandt's Eyes; and the History of Britain trilogy. He has written and presented forty television documentary films for the BBC, PBS, and The History Channel, including the Emmy-winning Power of Art, on subjects that range from John Donne to Tolstoy.
Review :
"[T]his robust, generous smorgasbord has pretty much something for every palate." - New York Times
"Willfully miscellaneaous... addictively readable... [Schama] is clever, versatile, and extremely likable." - Financial Times
"In these lively essays and reportage... Schama... turns his omnivorous erudition and warm prose to a vast array of topics. ... He approaches every subject with gusto and amusement and ... always has smart things to say." - Publishers Weekly
"His eloquence is on magnificent display in this new book: a delightful collection of journalistic essays." - The Independent on Sunday
"The most stimulating and surprising writing here is on cooking and eating... A diverting personal history." - The Telegraph
This sparkling, effervescent collection bridges the gap between scholarly and popular writing... It is excellent holiday reading." - The Spectator
"An enticing collection of pieces old and new, a bedside book of rich insights." - The Observer
"It really is very good... Witty, learned, informative, and clarifying." - Evening Standard (London)
"[C]ollections of essays don't come any better than this. All readers who like lively writing and good thinking, especially relating to art criticism and history, will enjoy this book." - Library Journal
