Wednesday 22 April 2009

Small but perfectly formed

I read Muriel Spark's children's book The Very Fine Clock. This is a very sweet little book with detailed illustrations which I think imaginative little children would love. Not very much happens at all, yet Spark creates a whole world occupied by Ticky the clock and his owner the professor.

Then I read the script of The Royal Hunt of the Sun by Peter Shaffer. This is an earlier work by the author of Equus. Here is a review of a recent revival, directed by Trevor Nunn. The plot concerns Pizarro's conquest of the Inca empire, and it raises many questions about colonialism, religion, life and death ... all the important themes! I preferred Equus though which was more about the individual.

Day 195; Book 192