Another thread which is moving so quickly…
.4. Ghosts of the British Museum – Noah Angell
Thanks to Boiledeggandtoast who included this in their bolds for last year - the title intrigued me, having visited the BM many times over the years. Taking a broadly tour guide’s approach through the Museum premises itself (which makes sense as the author has conducted walking tours of the BM), though with diversions to its offsite storage facilities, this book looks at parts of the Museum, from the public facing galleries to the storage and working areas behind the scenes. With regards to the Ghosts, there are two aspects, one being the theory that there are many objects in the collection which by their cultural heritage or means of acquisition are emanating disturbing energies, and specific examples are related here. There are also tales of haunting and paranormal activity on site, be it from former curators, wardens, or tourists who have visited (and sometimes died in) the Museum.
The book blends folklore, paranormal research, colonial cultural history and the history of museum collecting. There are explanations of how famous artefacts such as the Parthenon Marbles ended up in the BM, demonstrating the cultural insensitivities and jingoism of the past. The author, being American (though one who lived and worked in London), was able to see these histories from an outsiders’ point of view and didn’t hold back on his criticism of the Museum’s past acquisitions and current collections policy.
I loved the descriptions of the behind the scenes areas of the museum. The book was a refreshing view of an aspect of museum life which is rarely reported. Well researched, readable and a definite bold.
.5. Beyond the Wand – Tom Felton
A memoir of the early life of the actor who shot to fame as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, though concentrating mainly on the Potter years, with relatively little about what came after. Tom Felton comes across as a very likeable guy who doesn’t shy away from the tougher aspects of life on set and what came afterwards, including the periods where he struggled with his mental health. Another readable book packed full of anecdotes about the author’s time Pottering and the actors he worked with. As a major part of the film series, though not one of the three leads, he was able to have a semblance of normal teenage life with the regular stuff teenagers do, both good and bad, for which he seems very thankful.