“The writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man’s proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit — for gallantry in defeat — for courage, compassion and love. In the endless war against weakness and despair, these are the bright rally-flags of hope and of emulation.
I hold that a writer who does not passionately believe in the perfectibility of man, has no dedication nor any membership in literature.”

John Steinbeck

I don’t know why this picture makes me think so much of the Forsyte Saga, where houses are real characters, and part of the family. But I can actually picture Soames Forsyte entering here.

I’ve never watched the 2002 serie taken from the books, because of Soames Forsyte: all I’ve read about his character from people who watched it is “hideous”, while Bosinney is sort of a romantic hero. The Forsyte saga is not Jane Austen, where freedom and romanticism and feminism are the ideal goal for happiness, and Soames is not a bad character, not in a manichaeistic way. It was very surprising for me, giving my preference for the “Elizabeth Bennett” side of plots, to discover that I was definitely taking his part against Irene, but in my choice there was a pity for a man who, in his way, tried to understand, and just couldn’t, while Irene and Bosinney were, to me, merely superficial and selfish in their romantic attitudes. Soames is, also, the most symbolic of all, like the last bastion of old Victorian Era.

That said, you can’t just hate Soames Forsyte, but it is also difficult to love him (taking his part doesn’t mean you approve him), while Jolyon Forsyte (Jolyon Senior) is, for sure, one of my most beloved characters, not just in the saga, but in the whole survey of literature. The Forsyte Saga is maybe a minor Nobel winner, but these two characters are worth alone of the prize.

(and while Jolyon Jr. is actually Lestrade. Just sayin’.)

(Source: georgiangentility, via inhomedesign)

Where did I put it

Deep in the forest there’s an unexpected clearing that can be reached only by someone who has lost his way.

The Clearing - Tomas Transtromer

(In mezzo al bosco c’é una radura inattesa, che puó essere trovata soltanto da chi si é perduto.)