Comments on: London Transfer http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:07:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Randy http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-172 Randy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-172 Excellent post--vivid and insightful. Excellent post–vivid and insightful.

]]> By: Eric D Lehman http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-173 Eric D Lehman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-173 Great post, Kreg! Reads like a 'note' in NEXUS. Ever think about sending them something? Great post, Kreg! Reads like a ‘note’ in NEXUS. Ever think about sending them something?

]]> By: Greg http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-174 Greg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-174 Great work. Love the site! Great work. Love the site!

]]> By: Michael Jones http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-175 Michael Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-175 At last we now know where Miller stayed when he came to London in 1930, though in reading over his experiences it seems a shame that the city didn't imbue him with more of a happier stay. But as we can see from the outset this trip was coloured from the loss of not having June with him, which with also catching a cold and the awful weather it's easy to see why his descriptions are so punctured with the images he gave. But the fact remains that at certain times and within certain circumstances, that our state of mind can sometimes determine whether or not a view seems or becomes biased. But I can understand his point of view of travelling alone because even when I have travelled to Paris by myself, (and even though it's only two hours and fifteen minutes away) the loneliness that can accompany such an experience can be made to feel all the worse by being abruptly thrown into another culture. When this happens the senses become so overwhelmed that the experience turns in on itself, and when that happens the mind refuses to register anything except fleeting impressions, which if you also happen to have some negative experiences as well the overall picture can become easily distorted. But we're also talking about London in the 1930s, which when I have happened to look at photographs of the city during the same period they do seem decidedly saturated with an aura of gloom, so Henry wasn't wrong on this point. More than anything his impressions seem to more or less conform to the London of George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London, which as readers of the book will know doesn't shy away from its realistic accounts. What has always perplexed me though is where his accounts of public houses came from, because if they came from the area in which his hotel resides all I can think is that the same establishments must have been awful during the same period. I very rarely stop off in this area so I can't pass judgement on what the the majority of them may be like, but the ones I have visited the cliental have been very quiet. The more probable answer though to this question could be that his impressions came from the working class districts that he visited in the East End, which if anyone wishes to see similar images from the same period I would recommend that they view Bill Brandt's photographs. At last we now know where Miller stayed when he came to London in 1930, though in reading over his experiences it seems a shame that the city didn’t imbue him with more of a happier stay. But as we can see from the outset this trip was coloured from the loss of not having June with him, which with also catching a cold and the awful weather it’s easy to see why his descriptions are so punctured with the images he gave. But the fact remains that at certain times and within certain circumstances, that our state of mind can sometimes determine whether or not a view seems or becomes biased. But I can understand his point of view of travelling alone because even when I have travelled to Paris by myself, (and even though it’s only two hours and fifteen minutes away) the loneliness that can accompany such an experience can be made to feel all the worse by being abruptly thrown into another culture. When this happens the senses become so overwhelmed that the experience turns in on itself, and when that happens the mind refuses to register anything except fleeting impressions, which if you also happen to have some negative experiences as well the overall picture can become easily distorted. But we’re also talking about London in the 1930s, which when I have happened to look at photographs of the city during the same period they do seem decidedly saturated with an aura of gloom, so Henry wasn’t wrong on this point. More than anything his impressions seem to more or less conform to the London of George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London, which as readers of the book will know doesn’t shy away from its realistic accounts. What has always perplexed me though is where his accounts of public houses came from, because if they came from the area in which his hotel resides all I can think is that the same establishments must have been awful during the same period. I very rarely stop off in this area so I can’t pass judgement on what the the majority of them may be like, but the ones I have visited the cliental have been very quiet. The more probable answer though to this question could be that his impressions came from the working class districts that he visited in the East End, which if anyone wishes to see similar images from the same period I would recommend that they view Bill Brandt’s photographs.

]]> By: Kreg Wallace http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-176 Kreg Wallace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-176 Michael, Since writing this post I happened across another quote from Miller regarding his 1930 stay in London. In <i>Black Spring</i> he described the city in a somewhat more pleasant tone. Thought you might enjoy: "And when we’re pulling up the Thames the only thought in my mind is to see the Turner collection at the Tate Gallery. Finally I get there and I see the famous Turners. And as luck would have it one of the half-wits there takes a fancy to me. I find that he’s a magnificent water-colorist himself. Works entirely by lamplight. I really hated to leave London, he made it so agreeable for me." </blockquote> Michael,

Since writing this post I happened across another quote from Miller regarding his 1930 stay in London. In Black Spring he described the city in a somewhat more pleasant tone. Thought you might enjoy:

“And when we’re pulling up the Thames the only thought in my mind is to see the Turner collection at the Tate Gallery. Finally I get there and I see the famous Turners. And as luck would have it one of the half-wits there takes a fancy to me. I find that he’s a magnificent water-colorist himself. Works entirely by lamplight. I really hated to leave London, he made it so agreeable for me.”

]]> By: Michael Jones http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-177 Michael Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-177 Yeah Kreg I never noticed that before, and as an aside to the main accounts it's an interesting anecdote. Just makes me realise what a difference a person can make to someone's trip. Another thing that has come to mind with the mention of Turner is that his place of birth resides in Covent Garden, which if the readers of this site do visit the old market and opera it would only be a short walk for them to view the same location. To be exact it's in Exchange Court in Maiden Lane and though the original building is long since gone, a plaque has been affixed to a new building which also incorporates a public house. In my opinion it's a bit overpriced, but I nevertheless recommend it for at least one visit to view the bizarre interior which includes a two hundred year old clock hanging over the main bar, and various galleries surrounded by brewery copper. Lastly I would recommend finishing off at the Maple Leaf at the end of the lane. This establishment sells Canadian beer on tab and shows sports (mainly ice hockey unless main English matches are showing) on a multitude of screens, and with the low ceiling and log shaped walls the overall effect is of being in a log cabin. Again it's a bit pricey partially because it's in the West End and partially because it's in Covent Garden, but for a public house in the centre of London where the service is good where you can relax it's a great place to visit. Yeah Kreg I never noticed that before, and as an aside to the main accounts it’s an interesting anecdote. Just makes me realise what a difference a person can make to someone’s trip.

Another thing that has come to mind with the mention of Turner is that his place of birth resides in Covent Garden, which if the readers of this site do visit the old market and opera it would only be a short walk for them to view the same location. To be exact it’s in Exchange Court in Maiden Lane and though the original building is long since gone, a plaque has been affixed to a new building which also incorporates a public house. In my opinion it’s a bit overpriced, but I nevertheless recommend it for at least one visit to view the bizarre interior which includes a two hundred year old clock hanging over the main bar, and various galleries surrounded by brewery copper. Lastly I would recommend finishing off at the Maple Leaf at the end of the lane. This establishment sells Canadian beer on tab and shows sports (mainly ice hockey unless main English matches are showing) on a multitude of screens, and with the low ceiling and log shaped walls the overall effect is of being in a log cabin. Again it’s a bit pricey partially because it’s in the West End and partially because it’s in Covent Garden, but for a public house in the centre of London where the service is good where you can relax it’s a great place to visit.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-178 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/london-transfer#comment-178 I think that Gower Street has been renumbered since the 1930's, and that the hotel Miller stayed at is higher up the street on the same side at about number 90. This can be checked out in 1930's street directories, eg Kelly's. I think that Gower Street has been renumbered since the 1930′s, and that the hotel Miller stayed at is higher up the street on the same side at about number 90. This can be checked out in 1930′s street directories, eg Kelly’s.

]]>