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| | | The Romantic by William Boyd review – a swashbuckling adventure | | by Alexander Larman Nov 1, 2022 | | Boyd’s absorbing ‘whole-life’ novel transports its 19th-century hero around the globe for encounters with real-life figures and endless incident At the beginning of The Romantic, William Boyd asks: “What do we leave behind us when we die?” Posterity – and legacy – are questions that have preoccupied him for decades. There are few writers today as obsessed by the biographical – or faux-biographical – form. Over the course of his career, Boyd has specialised in examining the fictitious lives of his characters with wit and authority. He has now returned to life writing with this account of Cashel Greville Ross, the self-described “bastard son of an Anglo-Irish Protestant aristocrat and a Scottish governess”. We follow Ross as he variously assumes the personae of writer, adventurer, soldier, brewer and general observer of the 19th century. Told in the third person, rather than the first person of Boyd’s other biographical novels, The Romantic blends wryly fictionalised real-life events and characters with a creative description of the social, political and romantic upheavals within its protagonist’s life. There is, naturally, an all-consuming love affair, along with a suitably colourful supporting cast of rogues, swindlers, villains and even the odd honest man. The Romantic by William Boyd is published by Viking (£20). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply Continue reading... | | | | | Lavender Country's Patrick Haggerty, pioneering gay country musician, dies aged 78 | | by Shaad D'Souza Nov 1, 2022 | | The Washington musician and queer rights activist recorded some of the first openly gay country songs Patrick Haggerty, the pioneering gay country musician who led Seattle band Lavender Country, has died aged 78. His social media channels report that the late singer and songwriter suffered a stroke earlier this year, leading to complications that caused his death. Paradise of Bachelors, the label that reissued Lavender Country’s self-titled debut album in 2014, confirmed the news on Twitter: “We are heartbroken to confirm that Patrick Haggerty, the visionary songwriter, dauntless activist, and irrepressible raconteur of Lavender Country, passed away at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends.” Continue reading... | | | | | 'The man is guaranteed to be punished' – Matt Hancock on I'm a Celebrity will be legendary TV | | by Stuart Heritage Nov 1, 2022 | | The sadsack minister who screwed up Britain’s pandemic response has decided to serve his penance on television. This won’t just be unmissable viewing – it’ll restore our faith in humanity I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! has been a bit long in the tooth for years now. The challenges are getting stale, and the contestants grow more obscure with every passing year. If it wasn’t for Ant and Dec, who still at least manage to go viral once or twice per series, you’d give up watching completely. Maybe you already have. But today brings the sort of news that doesn’t just restore I’m A Celebrity to the premier league of reality shows, but also restores your faith in humanity itself. This is news that makes you stand a little taller, that makes your heart beat a bit louder. That’s right: Matt Hancock has signed up for I’m a Celebrity. Continue reading... | | | | | |
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