Bakhtiari nomads
Bala Hissar
Balfour, Christopher
Balkh: Nouh Gumbed
Ball, Mr (vicar)and n
Ballinger, Lennyand n
Baltit
Baluchistan
Balzac, Honoré de
Bamyan, postcard from
Bananasand n
Banbury
Bangladesh
Bangor
Barcelona
BC writes from
Bargello, the, Florence
Bari
Bariloche
Barnes, Julian
Barnett, Dr
Barnett, Christopher
Barnett, John
Barnett, Monica and n
letters to
Barnt Greenand n
Barrágan, Luis
Barrytown Explorer
Bartleet, Guy
Bartlett, Mr
Bartlett, Magnus
letters to
Basawanand n
Basel Kunstmuseum, postcard from
Baslow
Basses-Alpessee also Oppedette
Batey, Andrewand n and n
Bavanoff-Rosimé, M.E.
Bayreuth Festival
BBCand n
Beagle Bay
Beas, River
Beatles, theand n
Beauchamp Chapel
Beaufort, Duke of
Becker, David
Beirut
BC writes from
Beja
Béké, Étterem
Belgrade
Belgranoand n
Bell, Eileenand n
Bell, Pam
letters to
Bellucci, Marcoand n
Benares
BC writes from
Bengal
Benin, Republic of/Dahomey and n
BC writes from
Benin artworks
Bennett, Alan
Bennett, Sarah
letter to
Berlin
Berlin, Isaiah
Berlin Troy catalogue
Berlin Wall
Bermou
Bernhard, Thomasand n
Concrete
Correction
Gathering Evidence
Wittgenstein’s Nephew
Bernhard, William (Bill)and n
Bernhardt, Sarah
Betjeman, Johnand nand n
Betjeman, Penelope
EC’s description of
travels with EC and other companions
BC visits
and On the Black Hill
death
ashes scattered
BC writes to the Leigh Fermors about
brief references
Bhagavad Gitaand n
Bhimtal
BC writes from
Bhutan
king of
Birmingham
Birmingham Archaeological Society
Birr Castle
BC writes from
Black Mountains
Blake, William
Bliss Collectionand n
Blixen, Karenand n
Blue Mountains
Bodleian
Bogamils
Bole, Allen
Bolivia
Bologna, Giovanni da
Bombayand n
Bombay Talkie
Bonn
Landesmuseum
Bonnieux
BC in
Booker Prize
Boona
Booz, Elizabeth
Booz, Paddyand n
Borchardt, Anneand n
Borchardt, Georgesand n
Bordeaux
Borges, Jorge Luisand nand n
Borobudur
Bororo Peuls
Bosch, M. Van den
Bosphorus
Boston
Boston Globe
Botswana
BC writes from
Boumaza, Da’ad (Fatby; Fattles) and n
Bowlby, Anthony and Doeand n
Boyd, Alasdairand n
Boyd, Hilaryand n
Brain, Dr Charles Kimberlin (‘Bob’)
letter to
Brain, Ted
Bratislava
Bratt, Mr
Bratt, Percevald (Percy)and n
Bratt, Peter
Bratt, Thomas
Bratt family
Braun-Menendez, Amando
Brauns, the
Brazil
BC in
Brecon
Brenan, Geraldand n
letters to
Bridges, Tommy and Raeand n
Brindisi
British Museum
British School in Tehran
Brodsky, Josefand n
Bromley-Davenport, Walter and Lenetteand n
Brooklyn Bridge, postcard of
Brooklyn Museum, postcard from
Broome
Brown, Clarence
letters to
Brown, Louise Brydon
Brown Mountain Trail
Brown’s Green Farm
BC writes from
Bruce, Leighand n
Brummer, Ernest
Bruning, J.L.: Biological Clocks in Seasonal Reproductive Cyclesand n
Buber, Martinand n
Bucephalus
Bucharest
Budapest
postcard from Budapest Museum
Buddhism
Buenos Aires
BC writes from
Buford, Bill
BC’s’ response to Among the Thugs and n
Bulgaria
Bull, Dr Richard
letter to
Bunin, Ivanand n
Bunker, Emma
letters to
Burma
Burning Ghats
Burnley Building Societyand n
Burroughs, William
Burton, Richard
Bylanyand n
Byron, Robert
The Road to Oxiana
The Station
Cadiz
Cairo
postcard from
Calasso, Robertoand n
BC’s entry in visitor’s book
letter to
California
Camara, Bishop Hélderand n
Camargue
Cambridgesee also Cambridge University
Cambridge University
Trinity Hall
Cameroons
Cameroun
postcard from
Campbell, Josephand n
Camp Ghézo
Campion Hall, Oxford
Camu, Bernard
Camu, Ginetteand n
Canadasee also Toronto
Canales Fueginos
Canales Magallanes
Canberra
Cannes
Film Festival
Sunny Bank Anglo-American Hospital
Cannon, Michael
postcard to
Cape see Jonathan Cape
Cape Horn
Cape Pillar
Cape Sounion, postcard from
Cape Split
Cape Verde Islands
Cape York
Cardiff
Carey, Peter: Oscar and Lucinda
Carmichael, John Wilsonand n
Carney Farm
Caroline Islands
Carp, Bettyand n
Carver, Anthony
Carver, Raymondand n
Cassidy, Butch
Catalonia
Cather, Willaand n
Catholicism/Catholic Churchand n
Caucasus
Cendrars, Blaise
Ceylon
Cézanne, Pauland nand n
Afternoon in Naples
Grandes Baigneuses
Portrait of Madame Cézanne
Chad
Chaisemartin, Louise deand n
Chalfont, Alun Gwynne-Jones, Lordand n
Chandigarh
Chang, Mr
Chania
BC writes from
Chanler, Adrian (BC’s brother-in-law)and n
Chanler, Alida (BC’s sister-in-law)and n
Chanler, Elizabeth see Chatwin (née Chanler), Elizabeth
Chanler, Felicity (BC’s sister-in-law)and n
Chanler, Gertrude (BC’s mother-in-law) and n
letters to
Chanler, Rear Admiral Hubert (‘Bobby’) and n
Chanler, Johnand n
Chanler, Kevin
Chanler, Robert Winthropand n
Chanler, Sheilaand n
Chanler, William Astorand n
Channel
Chapelle du Rosaire, postcard from
Chapman, Chanlerand n
Chardin, Jean Baptiste
La Lavendeuseand n
Pipes and Drinking Vessels, postcard of
Charlemagne
Charles the Bold, sword of
Chatwin, Bruce
Career and Professional Activities:
considers his future career
seeks job at Sotheby’s
offered a job at Sotheby’s
years of employment at Sotheby’s
decides to leave Sotheby’s and study archaeology
spends period as student of archaeology
recommended to curate Asia House Gallery exhibition
gathers examples of nomadic art for exhibition
further work for the exhibition
wants to become a writer
decides to cease studying at Edinburgh
proposes to write a book on nomads
Deborah Rogers agrees to act as literary agent
sends book proposal to Tom Maschler
gains positive response to proposal
Desmond Morris comments on the proposal and n
further letter to Maschler about the book
prepares to go to opening of Asia House exhibition
goes to New York for opening of exhibition and n
submits a chapter of his book to publisher
sends film ideas to James Ivory and nand n
makes a documentary film and n
offered a position at Sunday Times
manuscript of first book rejected by publisher
works for Sunday Times
period of work and research for In Patagonia
writing, publication and reception of In Patagonia see In Patagonia
period of work and research for The Viceroy of Ouidah
wins Hawthornden Prize
and his review of Lorenz’s The Year of the Greylag Goose
period of work on On the Black Hill
wins Whitbread Prize
given a Fellowship at Yaddo and concentrates on his writing there
wants to change publisher to Viking Press and n
gets commission for article from New York Review of Books
deal with Viking Press goes through
returns to theme of nomads
research on the Aborigines in Australia
writing, publication and reception of The Songlines see Songlines, The
becomes fellow of the Strehlow Foundation
appears on TV chat show
asked to write forewords for various books
invited to Adelaide Festival
experience at Adelaide Festival
attends writer’s conference in Barcelona
invited to teach at Vassar Collegeand n
offered trusteeship of National Gallery
writing and publication of Utz see Utz
as judge for International Ritz-Hemingway Award
interviewed by Thubron, and thanks him and n
achieves Number 1 on Sunday Times bestseller list with The Songlinesand n
breaks with Deborah Rogers, his literary agent, and moves to Wylie, Aitken and Stone
invitation to Contemporary Writers Seminar, and his responseand n
attends conference for Russian and other dissidents
requests formal agreement with new agent
nominated for Thomas Cook Travel Award, but withdraws from shortlist
begins new book
shortlisted for Booker Prize
Health:
eye problems
problems with his teeth
tests on gum tissue for cancer
stomach pains
back problems
problems with chest
operation for varicose veinsand n
broken arm
has operation
illness in Java
thinks he has bronchitisand n
fatigue and symptoms of illness
becomes ill in Switzerland
in hospital in Oxford
described as HIV positive
mould fungus identified
brain scan
way of dealing with his illness
describes his experience of illness
focuses on diagnosis of fungus in bone marrow
sees a doctor in France
ill at Harbourfront Festival in Toronto
ill after return from holiday in West Indies and n
health deteriorates
described as suffering with AIDS
suffers from toxic brain syndrome, manifesting itself in hypomania
says he had malaria
thinks he is making a recoveryand n
writes about AIDS/HIV
during final days
Interest in art and antiquities:
interest in French furniture
comments on painting of The America
period of employment at Sotheby’s
involved in sale of paintings by Fra Angelico
and Mughal paintingand n
Greek head purchased through contributions for wedding giftand n
buys paintings of Indian fruits
spends two years as archaeology student
looks out for Wemyss ware for Derek Hill
comments on art forgeries
impressed by art in Aix
comments on art seen in Germany
approves of Welch’s purchase of Sassanian dishand n
likes silver plate brought back by Elizabeth
purchase of salt cellars
involved in Asia House Gallery exhibition
sells a painting
comments on Stocklet House
advice to Welch about a proposed purchase
buys South Sea sculptureand n
goes to Kervorkian Sale of miniatures
buys picture of Arctic Ternand n
owns hanging of feathersand n
sells various items
sale of Maroi boardand n
writes in letter about art seen by Elizabeth on her expedition
considers purchase of stone whale
purchases Eskimo seal
purchases a Shinto Mitsutomoe bronze
and sale of gold box for Jessie Wood
buys Moroccan shroud
involved in sale of work of Ernst and Picasso
asks Elizabeth to buy a Plains Indian figurine
considers selling feather cape from Peru
wants to buy Kotah drawing of an elephant
hopes to obtain dance mask in Cameroun
makes art worksand n
concerned about possible sale of small items
horror of the art world
sees Granet painting for sale
buys Swedish crystal chandelier
reads Ian Fairweather
reads essay on Passmore
buys Romanesque panel
writes to Bail about Cézanne
comments on choice of Venturi to build Sainsbury Wing of National Gallery
writes about a Norman Foster building
buys marble plaques in China
extravagant purchases towards the end of his life
Personal life:
birth
early childhood
as pupil at Old Hall School
as pupil a
t Marlborough College
enjoys acting
considers his future
signs lease on flat in London
friendship with Ivry Guild (later Freyberg)
encourages parents to travel
and plants/plant-collecting
problems after sub-letting his flat
friendship with Cary Welch
beginning of relationship with Elizabeth
engagement
and wedding arrangements
engagement announced
letters to Elizabeth during engagement
wedding and honeymoon
party in New York
starts house-hunting and buys Holwell Farm and n
hears about death of Raulin Guild
takes lease on apartment in Edinburgh
moves into Holwell Farm
describes life and jobs at Holwell Farm
friendship with Andrew Batey
and loss of Elizabeth’s pearls
buys new car
talks and writes about his great-grandfather
friendship with Peter Levi
attends Andrew Batey’s wedding
meets James Ivory
writes to Elizabeth while she is away on expedition
attends ceremony for unveiling of sculpture in memory of Raulin Guild
invites Ivry to stay with him in France
Ivry stays with
financial affairs
purchases flat in Sloane Avenue Mansions
friendship with Lane Fox
makes suggestions about Holwell Farm
relationship with Donald Richards and n
meets Sunil Sethi
relationship with Elizabeth breaks down and n
and sale of Holwell Farm
meets David Mason
and Elizabeth’s house purchaseand n
buys flat in London at Eaton Place
relationship with Jasper Conran
reconciliation with Elizabeth
meetings with Australian women
reviews his life
and work by Pawson on his London flat
considers buying a house abroad
and death of Penelope Betjeman
family remains ignorant about his sexuality and his HIV diagnosis
final months
thinks about how he wants to spend his life
thoughts about possessions
concerns about Elizabeth
spending spree
starts to shed possessions
Ignatieff expresses concerns about behaviour
last days
death
cremation and memorial service
Religious beliefs:
and Catholicismand n
has sessions with Father John Murrayand n
BC proposes to write a chapter of faith in his book on nomads
visit to Mount Athos
changed by his experience at Mount Athos
thinks of himself as orthodox and wishes to visit Mount Athos againand n
wants to convert to Greek Orthodox faith
and possibility of becoming a lay brother
Travels and sojourns abroad:
holiday in Sweden
drives to France after passing his driving test
holiday in Italy
has opportunity to travel through his work at Sotheby’s
sends postcard from Beirut
visits Sardinia
travels through Greek islands
sends postcards from France, Egypt, Italy and New York