Hey, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away

No hiding here. Love is on full display at Charleston House. In fact, when Charleston was the gathering place of the Bloomsbury Group, there was much freedom and encouragement to do whatever, whenever (and whomever). Keep reading, I'll explain. On Friday, I spent the day exploring the charming estate and lush gardens of Charleston House, located in the country town of Lewes, East Sussex. Charleston was the home of the artist Vanessa Bell, Virginia Woolf’s sister, and her lover, Duncan Grant. It was also the country meeting place for the writers, painters and intellectuals known as the Bloomsbury Group. Vanessa’s husband, Clive Bell, lived at Charleston at various times as did Duncan Grant’s lover, David Garnett. My favorite take on the group's polyfidelity is from Dorothy Parker: "they lived in squares, painted in circles and loved in triangles." Indeed, the romantic rapport of this group was ever changing and sometimes repeating, but somehow, they seemed to maintain lifelong friendships. Quentin Bell, Vanessa and Clive’s youngest son, believes that “the achievement of Bloomsbury has been to make us more tolerant people." The message of compassion and inclusivitiy is certainly reflected in the creative works of these early 20th Century bohemians. The tour of the house was especially exciting for those of us taking the class on Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Group. Just about every inch of the interior was painted by Vanessa and Duncan and was preserved with expert care. My favorite part of the estate were the gardens. The straight and structured pathways lined with endless variaties of were a perfect justoposition of order and chaos. That evening, our group attended the London Philharmonic Orchestra's exceptional performance of Debussy’s La Mer, Edgar’s Cello Concerto, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. After the show, we enjoyed a late dinner at an Italian restaurant a few blocks from our Russell Square hotel. I went to bed with a belly full of gnoochi and a heart consumed with gratitude for this day of whimsical exploration. Cheerio, y’all