There is something about random collections of essays and columns by a favourite writer that jogs the mind, provides a framework for appraisal, allows maverick takes. A categorisation that’ll keep me going for a while is Marias’ classification of cities — all large cities — into “the boastful and the conceited”. “Boastful cities,” he writes, “tend to be insecure, childlike and chatty (even vociferous), unenigmatic and exhausting, impatient places eager for praise and in a hurry to captivate.” Among their ranks he includes Paris, Rome and Madrid. “Conceited cities” share with boastful ones “a belief in [their] utter uniqueness”. They like to hold back, to appear unassailable…” And in the ranks of these “conceited cities” he lists Barcelona, London, New York, Venice.

Source: The Hindu December 02, 2017 18:45 UTC