According to a survey, this is Germany's favourite painting followed by "The Mona Lisa". Even - ahem! - Adolf Hitler loved "Der Arme Poet" (The Poor Poet) as did my father who also had cheap reproductions of Spitzweg's "Der Bücherwurm" and "Der Schreiber" hanging above his desk.
To me the image speaks to the perennial wish of withdrawing from the world's ever-increasing bustle into my own private space, as I will today after Padma has gone to an early Christmas function of the "Wrap With Love" ladies, leaving me to read my newly-acquired "The Five Foot Road".
(Padma has left. Just before she got into the car, she went all soppy and asked, "Peter, when I'm old and grey, will you still love me?" I assured her, "What a question, Padma! Of course, I will! I will even write to you!")
This beautifully produced hardcover book, which I found when I wasn't even looking for it, tells the story of Angus McDonald, who followed the trail of George Ernest Morrison (an Australian from Geelong) who went from Shanghai through the heartland of China and into Burma in 1894.
Morrison wrote a book about it, "An Australian in China". It's yet another book to be added to my library -- if I can find a reasonably-priced copy.
I shall follow the trail of both of them today as I withdraw from the world's ever-increasing bustle to my oh-so-well-worn sofa on the sunlit verandah.
The man who never reads lives only one."
