Monday, February 22, 2016

Writing inspiration: Hershel Parker's writing house

Because we all need a little writing inspiration now (you know you do), and you surely want to see what a literary scholar's writing house looks like (you know you do), here's Hershel Parker's beautiful writing studio in California back in the day.

In case you don't know his name, he's a very famous Melville scholar; here's more from his Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hershel_Parker. 

Here are all the pictures, at Parker's blog, of a house that is now a vacant lot, because California real estate prices, enough said.  Or should we just say, "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown"?

http://fragmentsfromawritingdesk.blogspot.com/2016/02/83500-in-1968-5100000-in-2015-627.html 

And see also his beautiful current workspace:

http://fragmentsfromawritingdesk.blogspot.com/2016/02/all-for-moby-dick-superb-working-space.html




6 comments:

Anonymous said...

So beautiful it even seems destructive to close the tab / post.

undine said...

profacero, it is beautiful, isn't it? I can't believe the size of the place, or what looks like space enough for a daybed on the other side of the desk. I'd be happy with just the desk side.

Anonymous said...

If we had gotten raises in the past 8 years, I would have the money to create a room almost this good. I would need the right paint and furniture, a replacement window and some outdoor building, not really a big change -- I have the concept going, have the daybed and the rug, really need the right desk and shelves, the ones I have do not really work, and the window and outside need work to get tranquil / beautiful enough ... writing houses need to be beautiful but also removed.

My other idea is complete tatami. I have always wanted a traditional Japanese house but I think a tatami writing cottage in a Zen back yard could be a good compromise.

Hershel Parker said...

Undine, please see my blog for an added photo of the current place.

undine said...

Dear Professor Parker, I'm honored that you stopped by! I will stop by your blog for an updated picture.

Hershel Parker said...

The pictures you posted were of my set up for a particular job. I have a shelf on two piano hinges that I put up when I need horizontal space. I was working there just in order to insert footnotes (on single pages) into the text of MOBY-DICK for the third Norton Critical Edition. Even when you are facing a wall, you want color from books, don't you? All the Melville books and offprints and other printed material--all all all--will be going to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, this year, if all goes well. Then there will be the books on Southern history for ORNERY PEOPLE.