London, GB | Formerly of New York, Buenos Aires, Fife, and the Western Cape. | Saoránach d’Éirinn.

Books Cusack Currently Lacks

Food is one of those perpetual worries to those poor souls such as myself for whom the arts of the kitchen are simply incomprehensible. One of the reasons I miss St Andrews was the ready availability of a well-balanced meal at three regular times of the day, even if it was hall food. I sometimes wonder if some earnest benefactor concerned for the well-being of young men recently graduated from old universities might establish a hall-away-from-hall in the major metropolises, in which batchelors can live with decent meals composed of plenty of vegetables and sausages and other such necessities until the uxorial hour strikes.

Anyhow, I stumbled across the existence of the above book, Food, Drink and Celebrations of the Hudson Valley Dutch and am always stumbling across various books of interest, but always either forgetting to purchase them or else pleading poverty (to the ire of the assiduous caretakers of the Cusack library). Amazon, however, allows the user to create a “wish list” of items detailing items one desires which others may purchase and have sent to them; a fine idea. I have assembled a list (currently numbering fifty-two books over three pages) and warmly invite those so inclined to advance the cause of Western Civilization by augmenting the hallowed stacks of my library.

You can view the list by priority, by price low-to-high (irritatingly putting the books available through third parties first), or, for the particularly generous, by price high-to-low.

Some of these (like Paddy Leigh Fermor) are books I have already read but don’t own any copies of, but most of the titles are books I’ve either read reviews of, have flipped through the pages of in bookshops, or which have been recommended by friends. (Some, like Wilhelm Röpke: Swiss Localist, Global Economist, are even by friends). There are also a few advantageously-priced editions from New York Review Books. Have a look, and send along recommendations!

Published at 2:52 pm on Sunday 24 May 2009. Categories: Books Tags: .
Comments

A delightful list of books. The one on follies particularly caught my eye, and as a would-be architect, those particularly useless yet charming structures have long had an attraction to me.

I have long been fascinated in 19th century and earlier architectural books. You may enjoy Joseph Gwilt’s Encyclopedia of Architecture, which gives you most of the information needed to design your own Gothic cathedral. A.J. Downing has superb information on landscaping. Both authors have a poetical and philosophical approach to their subject.

I would also recommend a new book on the Catholic churches in my city, were it not for the fact that the photographer is a scoundrel.

— Mark Scott Abeln 28 May 2009 2:58 am
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