Garden Retreats IV: A Room of One’s Own; The Writer’s Hut
The garden retreat prior to the 19th century had been for the most part the province of the priviledged nobility. Solitary intellectual pursuits were not excluded, but the forms were generally of convivial pleasure.
The industrial revolution of the 19th century led not only to an evolution of the social order, but coincided with the Arcadian ideal; the appreciation of the natural world, for rusticity, and for the cult of the individual. For writers of the period, especially of the late 19th and early 20th century, these forces came together in “the writer’s hut”. A new kind of hermitage, the writer ’s hut ,was by definition a small structure, perhaps big enough only for one person, where the writer could work undisturbed surrounded by nature.
So much has been written over the years about Virginia Woolf and her milieu, that I shall not attempt that here. Instead, when looking at the interior of her room, I imagine Virginia sitting at the desk, taking off her eyeglasses. Does she gaze through the doorway to the garden beyond? Tucked in the corner, a folding garden chair with its striped canvas speaks of summers past. It was here that Virginia wrote her last note to Leonard, at once a poignant plea for help and a testament to love.
Dickens had a tunnel constucted beneath the road which separated the estate from his chalet. The cool mossy tunnel became an atmospheric and psychological transition between his troubled household and private retreat. Charles Dickens died on a summer’s day in 1870 whilst at his desk in the chalet writing his unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
Dylan Thomas wrote of his writing hut in Laugharne, Wales “My study, atelier, or bard’s bothy, roasts on a cliff-top.” The hut or “Boathouse” commanded views of the tidal flats and surrounding estuaries.
The interior of the boathouse was decorated with an assemblage of magazine cuttings and paintings by artists such as William Blake and Modigliani. Lists of word alliterations, beer bottles, dictionaries and numerous drafts littered the space in a creative ferment.
By peering into the private garden sanctuaries of these authors, I feel I have come to know them in a way that they never completely shared with the public. Like his charming children’s stories, Roald Dahl looks as “snug as a bug in a rug” in his private sanctuary. Dylan Thomas’ boathouse says to me that living life itself can be messy, and yet in the process, inspiring. I cannot help but think of Dickens in a kind of child’s playhouse, enjoying what must have been lost in his own childhood. Shaw’s hut shows me that he, although brilliant, treasured simplicity. And Virginia Woolf… I thought her hut was quite direct and contemporary. I keep thinking of that garden chair in the corner. It seems to me a talisman of hope.
It is the respective author’s true qualities of character and private nature which are revealed in the writer’s hut: in a room of their own.
Oh, Philip, this is brilliant! I LOVE it. I think (but am not certain) that Mark Twain did this as well. Do you know? This is so rich. What a wonderful post, capturing the imagination and spirit of the day! Lucky Shaw! What a way to go. One of my favorite lines from a Fannie Flagg book is when the main elderly character climbs a ladder to a tree. Her last words, “Uh-oh.”
Bravo! Kathryn
Comment by Kathry/plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com — 28. June 2008 @ 03:24
great post.
Comment by deb — 28. June 2008 @ 05:27
Kathryn is right — how wonderful! I’ve been keenly interested in all things Woolf since watching “The Hours”. I love the idea of a writer’s retreat — mine would be a simple cottage near the ocean. One room would do, but it would be a room with a view.
Comment by Nancy Bond — 28. June 2008 @ 21:36
Hi Kathryn! Thanks for your comments! I ejoyed researching this and I am pleased you liked the post.
Comment by admin — 29. June 2008 @ 16:26
Hi Deb, Thanks fot the comment!
Comment by admin — 29. June 2008 @ 16:26
Hi Nancy, I enjoyed writing this. The cottage by the sea sounds wonderful! David Jarman had this cottage by the sea which looks interesting.The cottage was painted black with bright yellow trim. Wood letters on the side exterior wall with a poem. The garden was a kind of art installation with gravel and windblown tussoks of shrubs. Bits of things collected from the seashore,driftwood arranged.All very atmospheric with a sense of place. Have you read “The outermost House” by Henry Beston? That described living in a cottage by the sea,too.
Comment by admin — 29. June 2008 @ 16:38
What a great post and full of interesting information (like the fact that GBS died while pruning a tree!).
Comment by Phillip — 30. June 2008 @ 16:29
Hi Phillip, thanks for the info on Tasha Tudor. Congrats. on your article!
Best,
Philip
Comment by admin — 30. June 2008 @ 17:55
Hi Philip,
Thanks for faving my blog. I am looking forward to reading the fascinating posts on your blog and am so glad to have found you.
-Jean
(This is my third attempt at commenting. I am not a spammer. Just apparently bad at math.)
Comment by jean bradbury — 1. July 2008 @ 01:16
Whatever the creative endeavor, a private garden house space enveloped in nature is ideal….maybe necessary. I want one. :)Thanks for all the author specific info.
Comment by Donna — 1. July 2008 @ 04:39
Jean, I am so glad you commented! You know, I never would have place a math question myself! If I had to do math before I commented I would kick the bucket! Thanks for persevering. I hope everyone looks at your blog. Your art is so inspiring. I want to shout from the rooftops! Very Warm Regards, Jean. I love your spirit.
Sincerely,
Philip
Comment by admin — 1. July 2008 @ 05:18
“Everything is green today”, especially from a comment from Donna. What a pleasure to hear from you
I refer to Donna’s latest post. I hope others read Donna’s post,too.
Yes! “Whatever the creative endeavor, a private garden house space enveloped in nature is ideal….maybe necessary” well said Donna!
Warm Regards,
Philip
Comment by admin — 1. July 2008 @ 05:50
It is a delight to visit here and feel the wonder of discovery.
Shaw with his hut rotating to capture and control the sun - how Pygamilion-like - then again maybe he just needed better light to write by.
Philip, I can’t help but think that you, too, use your own “modest” garden retreat to write and sometimes lift your head in thought to gaze at your garden and muse how connected one is to all the other gardeners of words who have done the same before you.
Comment by Shauna — 1. July 2008 @ 08:22
Thanks for your comments, Shauna.You get to the heart of things. I love your blog.
Best regards,Philip
Comment by admin — 1. July 2008 @ 10:16