Marcus Hobson
@marcushobson.bsky.social
Writer and book lover.
Poet, reviewer and story writer.
Obsessed by history, myth and good art.
Lives in New Zealand and occasionally Sweden.
Poet, reviewer and story writer.
Obsessed by history, myth and good art.
Lives in New Zealand and occasionally Sweden.
“How dare you give The Divine Comedy a one star rating on Goodreads. And what does “wtf” stand for?
November 9, 2025 at 10:56 PM
“How dare you give The Divine Comedy a one star rating on Goodreads. And what does “wtf” stand for?
I may not have any novels by the new Nobel Laureate, but I’ve just discovered I have this interview of his in the Paris Review in the Summer of 2018. He ends by saying he isn’t going to write any more novels - looks like that didn’t happen. Always a risky prediction for anyone who is a novelist.
October 13, 2025 at 7:27 AM
I may not have any novels by the new Nobel Laureate, but I’ve just discovered I have this interview of his in the Paris Review in the Summer of 2018. He ends by saying he isn’t going to write any more novels - looks like that didn’t happen. Always a risky prediction for anyone who is a novelist.
Simply stunning. There is a warmth to this picture which perhaps doesn’t quite fit with what looks like a late-autumn or winter night, but the light in the street is beautiful.
One critic, writing in 1911 (the date of this work) commented, George Clausen 'gives us out of very simple elements the most perfect nocturnes, these mark a new and definite advance in his power in taking complete hold of a subject and making it his own.'
October 12, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Simply stunning. There is a warmth to this picture which perhaps doesn’t quite fit with what looks like a late-autumn or winter night, but the light in the street is beautiful.
I had seen one or two of these before, but I had no idea that Lewis was born in Australia, or that he had worked with Edward Hopper.
If you're into the 1920s/30s and art depicting common people's lives and night scenes of New York, you'll love the art Martin Lewis (1881 – 1962) made.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_...
Here's a small selection of his work;
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_...
Here's a small selection of his work;
September 28, 2025 at 7:53 AM
I had seen one or two of these before, but I had no idea that Lewis was born in Australia, or that he had worked with Edward Hopper.
Well known over here in New Zealand. In fact, as the story from the back cover shows, she could be found by a letter simply addressed to ‘Maggie, New Zealand’.
September 26, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Well known over here in New Zealand. In fact, as the story from the back cover shows, she could be found by a letter simply addressed to ‘Maggie, New Zealand’.
September 25, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Max Porter’s ‘Shy’ is such a brilliant book. Add a fantastic actor and yes ‘dynamite’ sounds right. Can’t wait!
Steve, based on the novel Shy by Max Porter, is now in select cinemas. On Netflix 3 October.
'This film – and Murphy’s devastating performance – exist in a class of their own.' Observer
'This film – and Murphy’s devastating performance – exist in a class of their own.' Observer
September 22, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Max Porter’s ‘Shy’ is such a brilliant book. Add a fantastic actor and yes ‘dynamite’ sounds right. Can’t wait!
I love the little section in this article about Woolf’s book on Walter Sickert. I have an original copy of this from 1934. The cover design is by Vanessa Bell.
September 18, 2025 at 9:20 PM
I love the little section in this article about Woolf’s book on Walter Sickert. I have an original copy of this from 1934. The cover design is by Vanessa Bell.
Delighted to see Ali Smith’s “So the Spruce Forest” on this stack. Such a wonderful celebration of the paintings of Munch, and beautifully illustrated
September 15, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Delighted to see Ali Smith’s “So the Spruce Forest” on this stack. Such a wonderful celebration of the paintings of Munch, and beautifully illustrated
WRITERS!! Is this a thing now? Do we need a little sticker on the front of our work to say “Human Written”? FFS
September 13, 2025 at 12:48 AM
WRITERS!! Is this a thing now? Do we need a little sticker on the front of our work to say “Human Written”? FFS
Reposted by Marcus Hobson
'Oarsmen,' (1877) reveals both Gustave Caillebotte's artistic credentials and his love of rowing which he did regularly near his family's estate at Yerres. The sharp cropping of the picture plane reveals his interest in photography.
September 8, 2025 at 11:51 AM
'Oarsmen,' (1877) reveals both Gustave Caillebotte's artistic credentials and his love of rowing which he did regularly near his family's estate at Yerres. The sharp cropping of the picture plane reveals his interest in photography.
Reposted by Marcus Hobson
How does an artist hint at a private world of desires and emotions? Vermeer achieved this in his works by depicting the most private of all cultural acts: reading. Harold Harvey's 'A New Book,' (1920) depicts his wife Gertrude at
their home Maen Cottage, Newlyn in Cornwall.
their home Maen Cottage, Newlyn in Cornwall.
September 7, 2025 at 11:56 AM
How does an artist hint at a private world of desires and emotions? Vermeer achieved this in his works by depicting the most private of all cultural acts: reading. Harold Harvey's 'A New Book,' (1920) depicts his wife Gertrude at
their home Maen Cottage, Newlyn in Cornwall.
their home Maen Cottage, Newlyn in Cornwall.
Books I read in August included these two superb titles by Scottish author Douglas Bruton. Both short, easy to read and utterly compelling (especially if you love the combination of art and literature) . #booksky Short 🧵
September 1, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Books I read in August included these two superb titles by Scottish author Douglas Bruton. Both short, easy to read and utterly compelling (especially if you love the combination of art and literature) . #booksky Short 🧵
I’ve read the first two volumes of this and can’t wait for volumes III & IV. They are published on 18th November… and I’ve just realised that is the day in which the main character, Tara, has been stuck for the last two years. #booksky
September 1, 2025 at 11:20 PM
I’ve read the first two volumes of this and can’t wait for volumes III & IV. They are published on 18th November… and I’ve just realised that is the day in which the main character, Tara, has been stuck for the last two years. #booksky
Interesting insights for those of us who write.
"King says it is impossible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer, and equally impossible to make a great writer out of a good one"
fivebooks.com/best-books/a...
fivebooks.com/best-books/a...
Creative Writing
The professor of creative writing at UEA says Joseph Conrad got it right when he said that the sitting down is all. He chooses five books to help aspiring writers.
fivebooks.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Interesting insights for those of us who write.
There are hundreds of lekythoi in the National Archaeological Museum so it took me ages to find this one in particular. Have been in love with the beauty of this lady since I was a young man, so how wonderful to see the whole vase. c450BC by the Achilles Painter.
August 18, 2025 at 12:22 PM
There are hundreds of lekythoi in the National Archaeological Museum so it took me ages to find this one in particular. Have been in love with the beauty of this lady since I was a young man, so how wonderful to see the whole vase. c450BC by the Achilles Painter.
This elk antler was carved in the mid-1000s. Interesting observation about the detail 🧵
August 13, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This elk antler was carved in the mid-1000s. Interesting observation about the detail 🧵
People not looking at art - Rijksmuseum
August 13, 2025 at 9:41 AM
People not looking at art - Rijksmuseum
People looking at art - Rijks Museum Amsterdam
August 13, 2025 at 9:38 AM
People looking at art - Rijks Museum Amsterdam
Pursued by snakes is obviously not a new problem in Sweden. This carving was made in the Bronze Age - at Vitlycke near Tarnum.
July 23, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Pursued by snakes is obviously not a new problem in Sweden. This carving was made in the Bronze Age - at Vitlycke near Tarnum.