The Milk of Paradise: Diaries 1993-1997

About this book

The twelfth and final volume of James Lees-Milnes magnificent diary covers the last five years of his life until a few weeks before his death at the age of eighty-nine. Old age and infirmity have not diminished his interest in life and he expresses sharp and original views on everything from modern architecture to New Labour. After the loss of his bossy but beloved wife Alvilde he devotes himself to visiting friends observing their habits and relishing their gossip and anecdotes. Whether describing an afternoon with the Prince of Wales a week-end at Chatsworth a nostalgic return to the scenes of his youth or a day at the latest London exhibitions he displays the same mixture of candour waspish wit eloquent exasperation and human understanding which has delighted his readers since the first of these volumes appeared in 1975.