Rome in Manchester

I received an invitation from the Anthony Burgess Society for the preview of an upcoming exhibition in their headquarters in Manchester. The exhibition is called Rome in the Rain, which is the translation of the French title of his novel Beard's Roman Women, one of his lesser known works, yet a brilliant novel. So it will be about Burgess' Rome, as well as the one depicted in the above mentioned novel and in Abba Abba, another great piece. And I guess his other books when the city is featured (as it is featured a lot). I have never been to Rome, I have only experienced it through fiction, in particular the fiction of my favourite writer. It is a shame I cannot go to Manchester any time soon, neither for the preview, nor for the exhibition itself. Too much to do here, what with the new home and all. I would have loved to visit Rome through Manchester.

The way to Manchester

I hope nobody finds me a repetitive blogger these days. I know I don't switch topic very often, let's put it this way. Tomorrow, I will journey to Manchester for my pilgrimage, which will consist of visiting the Anthony Burgess Foundation and see a play. More about it here and here. I am plugging it again: it's only £6.00 and it is on tomorrow and Saturday.

So I will be on the road, on the train, for quite a while. Last time I have been to Manchester, I had only been through Manchester really, I didn't stop there. At work, people wondered what the heck I was going to do there. It is a big city, but not exactly a tourist location. I am going there, of course, as a pilgrim. And for the long train journey I will of course read a novel of Anthony Burgess: Abba Abba. So many to read, so many to reread. It is one thing I love about long train journeys, the opportunity to read a lot.