Dan Fox (3)Critiques

Quirky little book, basically a few essays stitched together. Partly an examination of what pretentiousness is, partly a defense of it, partly looking at the good sides of at least some pretentiousness. Blessedly short but could have been even a bit shorter. Nice biographical postscript at the end.

Really lovely clarity of writing. Runs all kinds of references and concepts in to each other - per travelogue, part autobiography, part cultural dissection of the idea of Limbo and suspended spaces/time. Probably the only book I’ve read that references Thoreau, Winnicott and Douglas Adams with equal weight, which is glorious tbh.

Rather middlebrow.

Rather middlebrow.

Extended essay on "pretentiousness", arguing that most accusations of pretentiousness arise from an unwillingness to engage with the unfamiliar, and that pretentiousness is vital to creativity in the arts in particular. Along the way taking in visual art, theatre, pop music, writing, the author's own life, it makes a compelling case for re-habilitating the word "pretentious" with positive connotations. An engaging and entertaining read.