I keep a large ice pack, the kind with the bubbles in it, and take it to bed. I find that as long as I’m cool enough when falling asleep, I can stay asleep most of the night. I live in Texas and the air conditioning struggles once it gets over 100 (“feels like“temperature 110! ) In the summer I work downstairs instead of my studio as it gets very warm upstairs in the loft.
Such a beautifully written essay! In the South of USA, we exist 24-7 in air conditioned homes, cars and stores. My beloved mother, raised in the cool and pleasant weather of Massachusetts, suffered in the southern heat and rejoiced when we could finally afford “central” air conditioning. She eventually wrote and had published 5 novels and a multitude of short stories in the days when women’s magazines provided well-written fiction. I always longed to be a successful writer like my mother. Perhaps I have been handicapped by avoiding the stultifying heat, hiding in my artificially cooled house—always reading rather than writing. Thank you so much for a lovely, insightful start to my day.
A lovely post, June, so beautifuly researched! From memory, I think Woolf also wrote quite convincingly about heat in The Voyage Out. However, the best writing about heat I've read is by Gabriel García Márquez, especially in "No one Writes to the Colonel" (for me his best book).
The switch to summer hours in Spain always srikes me as both civilised and sensible. It allows for a decent siesta, which I find an effective way of dealing with the heat.
It is blissfully cooler today, thank goodness! Yes, I just sat and waited for it to be over. A lovely post, June, and I am enjoying Ann Bridge, which is perfect holiday reading.
Hot British authors! That was a fascinating and entertaining insight, thank you! I used to revel in the hot sunshine, as did my Mum, but as she entered her 70s she found heat oppressive and debilitating; I've reached that age now and I feel exactly the same, and dizzy, so I concur with Virginia Woolf "The heat is so intense one can hardly think, much less write.” This morning is blissfully breezy and several degrees cooler thank goodness, I shall have to retrieve my thinking apparatus! Keep cool June!
I’m 70 this year and although never great in the heat, I am getting much worse at tolerating it. I am venturing outside today for the first time since Thursday!
This is brilliant! So much research. I love Gertrude Bell, such a brave and resourceful woman. And that brilliant photo of Christie (her memoirs of being on a dig are very good)...I thought for one moment she was wearing wellies and carrying a brolly, just too British. But I can see its comfortable flat beach shoes and rather large ankles. Good old Agatha!
Thank you for this timely reminder that we're all being massive wusses about this heat! I just picked up Traveller's Prelude by Freya Stark last week, looking forward to getting stuck in.
At the other extreme, you could point to the Ursuline nun, Marie de l'Incarnation, writing from the town of Quebec in the depths of a Canadian winter sometime in the 1650s, who was unable to continue with her letter because the ink was freezing in its bottle.
Thanks for this great rundown... May have to find me some "cool riparian air," a la Woolf. In the vicinity of Detroit, hmmm, that might be River Rouge or the shores of Lake St Clair...
I feel quite wimpish compared to these stalwarts! I prefer to write early in the day anyway, but my strategy is to pull the blinds, drink lots of iced water and enjoy a small portion of ice cream to keep cool. 😎
I keep a large ice pack, the kind with the bubbles in it, and take it to bed. I find that as long as I’m cool enough when falling asleep, I can stay asleep most of the night. I live in Texas and the air conditioning struggles once it gets over 100 (“feels like“temperature 110! ) In the summer I work downstairs instead of my studio as it gets very warm upstairs in the loft.
Oh, an ice pack in bed! I never thought of that but it seems like a great idea! Thanks, Janee.
Such a beautifully written essay! In the South of USA, we exist 24-7 in air conditioned homes, cars and stores. My beloved mother, raised in the cool and pleasant weather of Massachusetts, suffered in the southern heat and rejoiced when we could finally afford “central” air conditioning. She eventually wrote and had published 5 novels and a multitude of short stories in the days when women’s magazines provided well-written fiction. I always longed to be a successful writer like my mother. Perhaps I have been handicapped by avoiding the stultifying heat, hiding in my artificially cooled house—always reading rather than writing. Thank you so much for a lovely, insightful start to my day.
Thank you so much, Elizabeth, for such kind words. Your mother sounds marvellous!
What a great idea for a post, June. And I always love seeing a writing schedule ☀️
Gertrude Bell also good at coping with the cold. I'm posting tomorrow about her climbs in the Alps and night out on am open glacier in the rain.
Ooh, I'll look forward to that!
A lovely post, June, so beautifuly researched! From memory, I think Woolf also wrote quite convincingly about heat in The Voyage Out. However, the best writing about heat I've read is by Gabriel García Márquez, especially in "No one Writes to the Colonel" (for me his best book).
The switch to summer hours in Spain always srikes me as both civilised and sensible. It allows for a decent siesta, which I find an effective way of dealing with the heat.
It is blissfully cooler today, thank goodness! Yes, I just sat and waited for it to be over. A lovely post, June, and I am enjoying Ann Bridge, which is perfect holiday reading.
Enjoy your hols. And I’m so glad you are enjoying Bridge!
What a marvelous round-up!
Thank you, Maria!
Hot British authors! That was a fascinating and entertaining insight, thank you! I used to revel in the hot sunshine, as did my Mum, but as she entered her 70s she found heat oppressive and debilitating; I've reached that age now and I feel exactly the same, and dizzy, so I concur with Virginia Woolf "The heat is so intense one can hardly think, much less write.” This morning is blissfully breezy and several degrees cooler thank goodness, I shall have to retrieve my thinking apparatus! Keep cool June!
I’m 70 this year and although never great in the heat, I am getting much worse at tolerating it. I am venturing outside today for the first time since Thursday!
This is brilliant! So much research. I love Gertrude Bell, such a brave and resourceful woman. And that brilliant photo of Christie (her memoirs of being on a dig are very good)...I thought for one moment she was wearing wellies and carrying a brolly, just too British. But I can see its comfortable flat beach shoes and rather large ankles. Good old Agatha!
She looks as though she should have been very uncomfortable in the heat, but her face says something different! I love her!
Thank you for this timely reminder that we're all being massive wusses about this heat! I just picked up Traveller's Prelude by Freya Stark last week, looking forward to getting stuck in.
At the other extreme, you could point to the Ursuline nun, Marie de l'Incarnation, writing from the town of Quebec in the depths of a Canadian winter sometime in the 1650s, who was unable to continue with her letter because the ink was freezing in its bottle.
Ill save that up for a winter post!
Winter will be here soon enough!
I love this so much! Absolutely wonderful detailia. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
It’s not at all elegant, but I was so hot yesterday afternoon I put some frozen peas on my feet!
What a great idea!
Thanks for this great rundown... May have to find me some "cool riparian air," a la Woolf. In the vicinity of Detroit, hmmm, that might be River Rouge or the shores of Lake St Clair...
Go for it! I love that word - I've been longing for an opportunity to use it!
I feel quite wimpish compared to these stalwarts! I prefer to write early in the day anyway, but my strategy is to pull the blinds, drink lots of iced water and enjoy a small portion of ice cream to keep cool. 😎
Sounds good!