THE SELF-ISOLATION RESIDENCY 7th October 2020: DAY 192

'The Constant Library',  Volume XIII: "Civilisation, Kenneth Clark.'

'The Constant Library',  Volume XIII: "Civilisation, Kenneth Clark'

"The idea for 'The Constant Library' follows on from a recent conversation considering which books had, and continue to have, the greatest affect my life in a variety of different ways. These are the books I can't live without and whenever possible I have a copy of with me wherever I travel in the world; my 'Constant Library."

When I formulated the concept of 'The Constant Library' I knew that there would be books and then there would be Books; I hated that phrase as soon as I considered it but because of today's subject matter I am going to let it stand. If I had to categorise Civilisation it would be as a Book, the shear weight of the publication, both on pounds and in...humanity confirms this. As you may have guessed I spent a long time selecting the word humanity for that sentence, be as soon as it came to me I knew that there was not other suitable word to describe the subject of this volume. And yes, volume is another word to contend with; Civilisation is a big book, hence my reference to pounds. As you know one of the main criteria for inclusion into The Constant Library is that the books included are books that 'I can't live without and whenever possible I have a copy of with me wherever I travel in the world', However transporting a copy of "Civ" to and fro across the pond several times a year is unfeasible and an e-book of it is just unthinkable! So what to do? Yes, Civilisation is a book of such importance that it was the first book which I have so far found it necessary to duplicate a copy of in both my fixed libraries in the US and UK. If that is not a recommendation I don't know what is?

But as far as recommendations go I would like to conclude this post with the words of Alan Clark, the authors son, from his Preface to the 1999 copy of Civ:

'Perhaps one reason why I appreciate all my father's work is grounded in a childhood memory. He was the most wonderful companion on a walk. He had such wisdom, so compendious a fund of knowledge, and a sense of humour, sometimes to ridicule, which illuminated and lightened his every word.'

For me perhaps one of the finest qualities of a good book is when is speaks with passion and love as a parent to a child.