Word: plumbings
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...quirks, while notable, are not without precedent; Schama belongs to a school of British-educated historians (specifically those who studied under the legendary John Harold Plumb at Cambridge) who place a refreshing emphasis on literary style—whether it be Linda Colley’s riveting yet sprawling “Captives,” or David Cannadine’s controversial study of the British Empire, “Ornamentalism...
CHICKEN WITH PLUMSMARJANE SATRAPIThe author of the Persepolis books continues to plumb her family history in Iran for fascinating stories. This one focuses on her great-uncle, a celebrated musician who, family lore says, decided to lie down and die after his wife broke his instrument, a tar, over her knee. Satrapi chronicles the eight remaining days of his life as he converses with his wife, his children, his friends and eventually the angel of death. Satrapi's simple black-and-white drawing style, combined with the fantastical elements of her narrative, turns Chicken with Plums into a great bedtime...
Shopping in local markets, picnicking in the Luxembourg Gardens and jogging around the nearby botanical park, they soon felt at home in the Left Bank apartment they rented for $4,500 a month. As Conlon became a familiar face, butchers shared culinary tips and cheesemongers gave her extra samples. Plumb, 49, became a habitu of a hole-in-the-wall caf frequented by local tradesmen and accompanied Conlon on explorations around the city. "Chip discovered walks through Paris were even better than walks around a golf course," says Conlon...
Homesickness wasn't a problem either. The three-bedroom, two-bath flat overlooking a Roman amphitheater was a powerful draw for visitors. A high-speed Internet connection simplified paying bills, e-mailing friends and maintaining the monthly investment e-newsletter Plumb had started writing after retiring as a managing director of a financial-advisory firm. "It was like living a dream," says Plumb. "We finally got our semester abroad...
Although both the location and the setting were perfect for Conlon and Plumb's Paris apartment, they faced some maintenance problems. Horrified when the hot-water heater shot flames and made booming sounds, they shut it off and boiled water on the stove for sponge baths for three days until French repairmen appeared. "The French have a different sense of urgency," Conlon says dryly. That hasn't deterred the couple from planning a regular sabbatical, however. Who can resist playing English cottager, Parisian apartment dweller or Tuscan farmhouse owner--if only for a short while...