Simon Pocock – Blog

Tag: writing

  • Back in Britain after 45 years abroad 1

    —

    by

    sjpocock
    in

    There were many funny little things to notice, such as seeing folk wandering around the streets clutching enormous paper mugs of watery coffee, or consuming endless bottles of “spring water”. But those were easy to brush off. This was more serious: “Don’t be judgemental!” I don’t think I heard this advice levelled at me more…

  • Southern Italy 1943: Connected writing 2

    —

    by

    sjpocock
    in

    I have collected many eye-witness accounts from local civilians during my research into events that took place in 1943 in the Campania region of Italy. They form the backbone and inspiration of what I do. This piece was based on a chance encounter with a man from Sanza, in the Cilento area of Southern Italy.…

  • Southern Italy 1943: Connected writing 1

    —

    by

    sjpocock
    in

    Writing non-fiction was not really what I had set out to do, but one night … I was sitting in my office in Naples one very stormy evening in the late autumn of 2001, supposedly finishing off my duty rostrum but in reality idly leafing through a book about Operation Avalanche. It was not just…

  • Poems 1

    —

    by

    sjpocock
    in

    I was grateful to re-read some beautiful poems by my friend Bonnie Naradzay who I shall address as “you”. I take heart from remembering that you once held me so gently in your thoughts, albeit not without touches of your usual bumptious humor. Recalling your gangly schoolgirl self is breath-catching. I wonder if I am…