Auld lang syne

A warm, conversational memoir unfolds as the scholar‑speaker reflects on a forced retreat from his usual scholarly pursuits. While convalescing in a quiet English spa town, he turns to memory, pen, and ink, sketching the faces, music, and conversations that have shaped his life. The narrative weaves personal anecdotes with literary allusions, offering a gentle, sometimes wry look at friendships, lost loves, and the everyday poetry of recollection.

The book’s tone is intimate and unpretentious, inviting listeners into a private salon where music and literature mingle with the hum of ordinary days. Its structure follows a series of “musical” and “literary” recollections, punctuated by musings on age, loss, and the enduring resonance of the past. Listeners will feel as though they’re sharing tea with an erudite yet approachable companion, hearing the echo of a life lived in love of learning and human connection.