Xavier de Maistre - A Journey Around my Room

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I discovered with further research, Xavier de Maistre was confined to his house in Turin for 42 days (the result of a duel.)

De Maistre’s lively imagination and his observations of shadows and light, from the sunshine or moonlight, and the warmth of his bed is a joy to read. He is under house arrest for 42 days with his servant Joannetti and his dog Rose, his trusty companion.

Is he trying to make the best of his situation and maybe going a little mad?

What have I learnt from this book?

In each chapter, flicking from one possession to another, he describes and imagines narratives from the art on the walls, the sounds or touches of nature and the memories these conjure up.

His appreciation of his belongings from his library of books and poetry takes us on journeys. He notes how his clothing affects his behaviour from his dressing in his uniform or his dressing-gown.

He talks of how colour affects our mood by its warmth or coolness. The pictures in his gallery allow memories to flood back to him from his observations and I can relate to these feelings.

His mind wanders to and from people (the homeless people in the streets and letters that were handwritten from the heart by people who had passed away), war, music and paintings by Raphael and Correggio and the mirror that he feels outrank them all.

Xavier de Maistre makes me aware that there is much to mull over and think about in your surroundings or immediate environment, but only when you look deeply. It teaches me not to take things for granted and enjoy small pleasures.

This book has opened my eyes to my imagination. I feel that I touched on this earlier in the course, how my possessions take me to the places I have visited, and I think my tutor is guiding me back to these imaginations.