In *The Garden Against Time*, Olivia Laing reflects on the universal fascination with gardens, from ancient myths to contemporary times. The book chronicles Laing's personal journey of restoring a walled garden in Suffolk during the COVID-19 pandemic, weaving together themes of hope, nature, and the cyclical nature of life and death. Laing also delves into the historical and cultural significance of gardens, highlighting their role in reflecting societal values and political realities.
In 'The Trip to Echo Spring', Olivia Laing examines the complex relationship between creativity and alcoholism by tracing the lives of six iconic American writers: Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tennessee Williams, John Berryman, John Cheever, and Raymond Carver. Through her travels across America, Laing delves into how these writers' struggles with alcohol influenced their work and personal lives, challenging the myth of the 'alcoholic writer'. The book is both a travelogue and a deeply personal exploration of addiction and creativity.
In 'The Lonely City', Olivia Laing delves into the concept of loneliness, using her personal experiences in New York City as a backdrop. She explores the works of artists like Edward Hopper, Andy Warhol, and David Wojnarowicz, examining how they expressed loneliness in their art. The book is a blend of memoir, art appreciation, and cultural critique, offering a profound exploration of what it means to be alone in a crowded city.
In 'Funny Weather: Art in an Emergency', Olivia Laing compiles a series of essays that argue for the importance of art in turbulent times. The book profiles artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Georgia O'Keeffe, while also exploring themes of loneliness, technology, and the body. Laing's work celebrates art as a means to challenge perceptions and offer new ways of living.
Modern Nature is a deeply personal and moving account of Derek Jarman's life as he faces his HIV diagnosis. The book chronicles his journey of creating a garden at Prospect Cottage in Dungeness, a desolate yet beautiful coastal area. It intertwines themes of nature, art, and personal reflection, offering a powerful exploration of life, loss, and creativity.
In 'Crudo', Olivia Laing crafts a fast-paced narrative through the eyes of Kathy, a writer navigating marriage and global chaos. The novel explores themes of love, anxiety, and the challenges of intimacy in a world beset by political upheaval and environmental crises. Laing's work is a unique blend of autobiography and fiction, inspired by her own life and that of Kathy Acker.
In *Everybody: A Book About Freedom*, Olivia Laing delves into the long struggle for bodily freedom, using the life of Wilhelm Reich to explore gay rights, sexual liberation, feminism, and the civil rights movement. The book draws on her own experiences in protest and alternative medicine, examining significant figures like Nina Simone, Andrea Dworkin, and Malcolm X. It celebrates how ordinary bodies can resist oppression and reshape the world.
This anthology, edited and introduced by Hannah Dawson, is a comprehensive collection of feminist writings from the fifteenth century to the present. It includes works by notable figures such as Christine de Pizan, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Mary Wollstonecraft, Virginia Woolf, and contemporary writers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Maya Angelou. The book covers a wide range of topics including class, capitalism, colonialism, and other forms of oppression that intersect with sexism. It highlights both well-known and lesser-anthologized thinkers, providing a rich and diverse perspective on feminist thought and history.
Published in 1667, 'Paradise Lost' is an epic poem in blank verse that follows the biblical story of the Fall of Man. The poem begins in medias res, detailing the descent of Satan and his followers into Hell after their rebellion against God. It explores two main narrative arcs: one focusing on Satan's actions and the other on Adam and Eve's story in the Garden of Eden. The poem delves into themes such as free will, obedience, revenge, and pride, and it portrays the complex characters of Satan, Adam, and Eve. Milton's work is known for its rich language, classical structure, and profound theological and philosophical insights[1][3][5].
The acclaimed writer and critic Olivia Laing is the author of seven books distilling challenging topics that should be difficult to wrap beautiful words around. Their latest book is The Garden Against Time, a work that initially began through documenting the restoration of a walled garden in Suffolk and eventually grew into a wider exploration of what it means to cultivate a personal paradise. Joining Laing in conversation for this episode is Hannah Dawson, the author and historian of ideas whose books include The Penguin Book of Feminist Writing.
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