This just so wonderful, jodi. A brilliant portrait of a wonderful city. And WATER IS BEST is now my favourite slogan, even in Latin. Sorry to hear about the clotted cream. Please try it again another time in my home county of Devon. We do those things well. Thank you again.
Thank you so much! I spent my birthday in Totnes last year and loved it. It's one of the places I would love to go back and visit - both Devon and Cornwall.
True, true. Spent some time in Devon, way back when. Place called Lee Abbey (somewhere beyond the Valley of Rocks). We always looked forward to cream teas, in Lynmouth. I can still picture that clotted cream on the scones.
Wonderful piece. Bath is lovely, but often too crowded. But the last time I was there I went to the Grayson Perry exhibition at the Holburne and it was perfect. Did you make it up the hill to the American Museum with the quilts?
Thank you Sarah! I thought about going to the American Museum the last time I was there, but talked myself out of it because I wasn't in the mood for American things. I hear it's lovely, though. I did go to the English Surrealist exhibit at the Victoria Art Gallery though, which I think is still on. It was small, but wonderful! I walked though twice.
Jan 8·edited Jan 8Liked by jodi {fiftybeautifulthings}
I love these 'Letters from...' Jodi - they transport the reader right to the place you're writing about. Bath is such a magical city, and when you're there, you really do feel as if novel characters could pass by at any moment. The city is also near one of my favourite gardens in the world, Iford Manor.
Did you manage to visit the Holborn Museum? It is full of fascinating trinkets and knickknacks.
Thank you so much, Jo! I really appreciate it. I didn't get to the Holburne Museum on this trip, but I had been there (and loved it) the year before. I will put Ilford Manor on my list for next time! :)
A beautiful piece Jodi, you've captured the city well. Over the decades I've visited Bath much, both on business and for pleasure. Then before moving back to the northeast of England I lived for some years in a town around 5 miles from Bath. I'm glad you mention Mary Wollstonecraft and Frankenstein. Most people think Mary wrote the novel in some rain and windswept Swiss castle and yet the majority emerged in those rented rooms in Bath. And while her 'step-sister' Claire Claremont lay in confinement with Byron's child a few streets away. You can still walk the same streets Mary would walk to visit Claire. That place of confinement is now a clothes shop I believe with idiosyncratically a quote from Percey Shelley on the wall. And there's the other English hero Nelson who loved Bath and for a time lived in a house there opposite his father's. As with much of Bath both houses still stand. My favourite bookshop happens to be 'Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights' on John St. Spent many a happy hour there and even indulged in their reading 'spa'. As for how to pronounce the city's name? Well, being from northeast England I pronounce with a hard 'a' and I found that residents of Bath, despite being in the south where you'd expect a "Barth" type pronunciation, do the same.
Thank you, Harry! My biggest problem when I write these city pieces is that there's SO much history I would love to include. I could go on and on and on...
I didn't know that Claire Claremont lived so close by. Such a lot of scandal in their little circle! I didn't get a chance to visit "Mr B's", though I do remember seeing it listed - it's hard to forget a name like that. There are so many great bookshops in Bath - I could spend hours (and a fortune) in George Bayntun, and Toppings is wonderful too!
I know what you mean about history - my weekly meanderings are mainly of Newcastle and other northeast England towns and cities - I've barely scratched the surface after a year. You write some great pieces and certainly captured the essence of Bath 👍
Thank you so much! I have to edit them to have round corners in photo editing software before I post them - I use Adobe Lightroom. I wish it were an option here, it would make life so much simpler!
Just terrific, Jodi—writing, photos, literary references, all of it! We visited Bath long ago, but after reading your descriptions, seeing the lovely pictures, and reading about the many writers I esteem who lived there or wrote about it, I feel like I missed it and need to go back. Thanks so much for this.
Thank you so much, Ruth! That’s exactly how I always feel - no matter how much research I do, I always look back and think, “Wait, I missed that!?” There are just so many interesting things in the world!
Gorgeously illustrated! (Enjoyed admiring Pulteney Street where Catherine Moorland and the Allen's lodged.) Don't you think Austen's perceptions of Bath changed with her life experiences? Impossible to read Northanger Abbey as written by a Bath hater (David Nokes is interesting on this, in his biography). And if you ever make it to a ball, remember to drink your wine and hot way when you get home!
Thank you! You're right, I don't think she hated Bath by any means - I think she just preferred the countryside and maybe found the society of Bath tiresome. I mean, I'm of the opinion that no one could *hate* Bath! It's certainly true that Catherine Morland and Anne Eliot have vastly different opinions about Bath, but how much of that is character and how much Jane's changing views, I don't know for sure.
(I say "Jane" like I know her, but it's really just affection, I think.)
We're all allowed to change as we get older, right? when I was in college I thought Pride and Prejudice was the best. book. ever. In my thirties I grew fonder of Persuasion. Now I am firmly on team Emma. I still love and appreciate the others though!
Yes, that was my experience, ending up with Emma (although Northanger is always delicious for a quick pick-me-up. She writes being very young so well).
You MUST assemble your letters into book form! I feel like I'm walking the historical sites with you, and your references to the locations in literature are such a "hook" to the interesting places you walk. Now I want an invitation to the Ball! I'm sure I have a period costume SOMEWHERE in the house!
Lovely walk and photos, Jodi! Glad you got to Persephone Books too - a wonderful bookshop. Makes me want to go back to Bath soon...
Thank you, Ann! I was SO excited the first time I actually got to go to Persephone Books, you have no idea.
This just so wonderful, jodi. A brilliant portrait of a wonderful city. And WATER IS BEST is now my favourite slogan, even in Latin. Sorry to hear about the clotted cream. Please try it again another time in my home county of Devon. We do those things well. Thank you again.
Thank you so much! I spent my birthday in Totnes last year and loved it. It's one of the places I would love to go back and visit - both Devon and Cornwall.
Ditto on the clotted cream!
True, true. Spent some time in Devon, way back when. Place called Lee Abbey (somewhere beyond the Valley of Rocks). We always looked forward to cream teas, in Lynmouth. I can still picture that clotted cream on the scones.
Wonderful piece. Bath is lovely, but often too crowded. But the last time I was there I went to the Grayson Perry exhibition at the Holburne and it was perfect. Did you make it up the hill to the American Museum with the quilts?
Thank you Sarah! I thought about going to the American Museum the last time I was there, but talked myself out of it because I wasn't in the mood for American things. I hear it's lovely, though. I did go to the English Surrealist exhibit at the Victoria Art Gallery though, which I think is still on. It was small, but wonderful! I walked though twice.
I love that museum too - the gardens are terrific as well
Just exquisite. Love Bath. Thank you for a wonderful trip down memory lane.
Thank you so much!
I love these 'Letters from...' Jodi - they transport the reader right to the place you're writing about. Bath is such a magical city, and when you're there, you really do feel as if novel characters could pass by at any moment. The city is also near one of my favourite gardens in the world, Iford Manor.
Did you manage to visit the Holborn Museum? It is full of fascinating trinkets and knickknacks.
Thank you so much, Jo! I really appreciate it. I didn't get to the Holburne Museum on this trip, but I had been there (and loved it) the year before. I will put Ilford Manor on my list for next time! :)
A beautiful piece Jodi, you've captured the city well. Over the decades I've visited Bath much, both on business and for pleasure. Then before moving back to the northeast of England I lived for some years in a town around 5 miles from Bath. I'm glad you mention Mary Wollstonecraft and Frankenstein. Most people think Mary wrote the novel in some rain and windswept Swiss castle and yet the majority emerged in those rented rooms in Bath. And while her 'step-sister' Claire Claremont lay in confinement with Byron's child a few streets away. You can still walk the same streets Mary would walk to visit Claire. That place of confinement is now a clothes shop I believe with idiosyncratically a quote from Percey Shelley on the wall. And there's the other English hero Nelson who loved Bath and for a time lived in a house there opposite his father's. As with much of Bath both houses still stand. My favourite bookshop happens to be 'Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights' on John St. Spent many a happy hour there and even indulged in their reading 'spa'. As for how to pronounce the city's name? Well, being from northeast England I pronounce with a hard 'a' and I found that residents of Bath, despite being in the south where you'd expect a "Barth" type pronunciation, do the same.
Thank you, Harry! My biggest problem when I write these city pieces is that there's SO much history I would love to include. I could go on and on and on...
I didn't know that Claire Claremont lived so close by. Such a lot of scandal in their little circle! I didn't get a chance to visit "Mr B's", though I do remember seeing it listed - it's hard to forget a name like that. There are so many great bookshops in Bath - I could spend hours (and a fortune) in George Bayntun, and Toppings is wonderful too!
I know what you mean about history - my weekly meanderings are mainly of Newcastle and other northeast England towns and cities - I've barely scratched the surface after a year. You write some great pieces and certainly captured the essence of Bath 👍
Fabulous read, thanks. It’s one of those places Bath isn’t it? Where you get there and think - I could live here! Aah fantasies!
Thank you! Yes, you think that until you look at real estate prices, lol! I just love it.
Nice to dream! It’s quite different from other English cities I think because of the limestone buildings.
Your images are just stunning. (How do you get them to be softly rounded like that?)
Thank you so much! I have to edit them to have round corners in photo editing software before I post them - I use Adobe Lightroom. I wish it were an option here, it would make life so much simpler!
Just terrific, Jodi—writing, photos, literary references, all of it! We visited Bath long ago, but after reading your descriptions, seeing the lovely pictures, and reading about the many writers I esteem who lived there or wrote about it, I feel like I missed it and need to go back. Thanks so much for this.
P.S. I hope you get invited to a ball in Bath sometime—and write about it!
Thank you so much, Ruth! That’s exactly how I always feel - no matter how much research I do, I always look back and think, “Wait, I missed that!?” There are just so many interesting things in the world!
So, so true!
Gorgeously illustrated! (Enjoyed admiring Pulteney Street where Catherine Moorland and the Allen's lodged.) Don't you think Austen's perceptions of Bath changed with her life experiences? Impossible to read Northanger Abbey as written by a Bath hater (David Nokes is interesting on this, in his biography). And if you ever make it to a ball, remember to drink your wine and hot way when you get home!
Thank you! You're right, I don't think she hated Bath by any means - I think she just preferred the countryside and maybe found the society of Bath tiresome. I mean, I'm of the opinion that no one could *hate* Bath! It's certainly true that Catherine Morland and Anne Eliot have vastly different opinions about Bath, but how much of that is character and how much Jane's changing views, I don't know for sure.
(I say "Jane" like I know her, but it's really just affection, I think.)
We're all allowed to change as we get older, right? when I was in college I thought Pride and Prejudice was the best. book. ever. In my thirties I grew fonder of Persuasion. Now I am firmly on team Emma. I still love and appreciate the others though!
That should be hot water (!). Obviously.
Yes, that was my experience, ending up with Emma (although Northanger is always delicious for a quick pick-me-up. She writes being very young so well).
Gosh, how beautiful and I love Bath, I've been many times. Such a lovely write, thank you for sharing.
You MUST assemble your letters into book form! I feel like I'm walking the historical sites with you, and your references to the locations in literature are such a "hook" to the interesting places you walk. Now I want an invitation to the Ball! I'm sure I have a period costume SOMEWHERE in the house!
These photos are magnificent, Jodi. Thank you for sharing.
Another place we have visited, but loved seeing it again through your eyes.