A review by kimswhims
Through the Window: Seventeen Essays and a Short Story by Julian Barnes

4.0

A really well narrated set of witty essays with an entertaining short story tossed in for good measure. All centre around a literary theme and tend to talk about one particular author. Each essay takes a tangential approach to the author's life and work. Many of the authors were unknown to me. Many are French or spent time in France. Rudyard Kipling, for example, spent quite a bit of time in France after his son was killed in WWI. He kept a detailed journal of that time, he was inspecting war cemeteries to ensure their upkeep. Gives an insight to the man and his later work.
The short story centres around a creative writing teacher and his adult students, reminded me a lot of Brian Bilston's poetry in the Pub in "Diary of a Somebody" (listened to that on audio earlier in the year, another I'd recommend).
Looking forward to reading one of Julian Barnes' novels, hopefully later in the year.