Camilo José Cela – Leeds's Singing Organ-Grinder

The worms crawled in and the worms crawled out

Towards the end of La colmena (The hive), Cela’s portrait of a post-war Madrid devoid of heroes and on the brink of oblivion, The morning ascends, little by little, climbing like a worm through the hearts of the men and the women of the city. This reminds me of the episode in Pío Baroja’s morbid…

Dogs’ bollocks

A 16th century recipe you may not want to try at home.

A new etymology of “fanny”

Fine upstanding gentleman, prepare your great serpent to play the lovely Encarnación’s fandango.