A Mantelpiece of Shells

""A Mantelpiece of Shells"" is a memoir written by Ruthven Todd, a Scottish poet, novelist, and artist. The book details Todd's life growing up in the early 20th century in Scotland, his education at the University of Edinburgh, and his time serving in World War II.The title of the book comes from a mantelpiece in Todd's childhood home that was adorned with a collection of seashells, which served as a symbol of his fascination with the natural world. Throughout the book, Todd reflects on his love of nature and the role it played in shaping his artistic and literary pursuits.The memoir also delves into Todd's personal relationships, including his marriage to a fellow artist and his friendships with notable figures such as Dylan Thomas and W.H. Auden. Todd's experiences during the war, including his capture and imprisonment by the Germans, are also recounted in vivid detail.Overall, ""A Mantelpiece of Shells"" offers readers a glimpse into the life of a talented artist and writer, as well as a portrait of Scotland during a time of great change and upheaval.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.