13 JANUARY 1996, page 30

Throbbing With A Passion For Life

Andrew Barrow THE SHRINE by Cristina Odone Weidenfeld, £15.99, pp. 248 T he publication during the panto season of this high-spirited and upbeat novel seems rather appropriate.......

Books

Let us now praise obscure men Philip Hensher NO PASSION SPENT by George Steiner Faber, £19.99, pp. 421 THE DEEPS OF THE SEA by George Steiner Faber, £12.99, pp. 393 H as anyone......

My Pipes

Many, in the way of things, have been broken or lost — where and how I can't remember; yet they were all my darlings: each one in its time a rare companion and comforter. For......