Treasure Palaces: Great Writers Visit Great Museums

Author(s): Maggie Fergusson

Non Fiction

Who doesn't love a good museum? Whether grand and impressive, or irreverent and amusing, museums are places to lose - and find - ourselves, palaces of the imagination. And they have long been sources of inspiration to the most creative among us. Treasure Palaces brings together over twenty of the world's greatest writers to give their own personal tours of the museums that have awed, haunted and inspired them. The result is a fascinating look into the world of literature and museums, where Margaret Drabble, John Burnside, Claire Messud and Michael Morpurgo open the doors to their favourite places and invite us inside. Explore the Villa San Michele on the sunny island of Capri with Ali Smith, as she delves into the life of its eccentric founder. Step off the busy roads of Paris with Jacqueline Wilson, as she dives into the uncanny world of the Musee de la Poupee. Discover an Egyptian temple in the heart of Copenhagen with Alan Hollinghurst, and the mystery of Sibelius's silence in Helsinki with Julian Barnes. Travelling all over the world, from Oxford to New York, Zagreb to Kabul, and exploring a range of museums, from the ABBA Museum to the Museum of Broken Relationships, the essays in this collection will leave you inspired, longing to revisit your favourite treasure palace or itching to find a new one to explore.


Product Information

With contributions from: Rory Stewart Tim Winton William Boyd Michael Morpurgo John Burnside Alan Hollinghurst Julian Barnes Allison Pearson Jacqueline Wilson Ali Smith Margaret Drabble Frank Cottrell Boyce Claire Messud Roddy Doyle -- and more An entertaining and idiosyncratic tour of obscure museums that have inspired and challenged famous authors throughout their lives ... The collection takes an intimate look both at the writers and the museums themselves, providing deep insights into how artists connect with the world around them. Publishers Weekly These graceful, vicarious tours to museums famous and obscure are almost as good as the real thing. Kirkus Reviews

General Fields

  • : 9781781256909
  • : Profile Books Limited
  • : Economist Books
  • : 31 August 2016
  • : 01 December 2016
  • : 01 September 2020
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Maggie Fergusson
  • : 288