IT HAS TAKEN me almost a quarter of a century to forgive my college tutor for his misguided advice. Well, I thought it was misguided. I suspect he was just being mischievous and paying me back for two years of perceived indolence. For one of my finals, my class had to embark on what was known as a seven-day paper, which is fairly self-explanatory.
At high noon on a Monday, we were given the exam questions and had seven days to produce a relevant treatise. The slightly odd thing about this particular assignment was that you were allowed to do your research beforehand, and the tutors, presumably, knew roughly what was going to crop up on the paper, meaning that students were unlikely to be completely side-swiped, and tutors were equally unlikely to give their charges a ‘bum steer’.
My tutor, however, after undue consultation, suggested that I might be interested in the picaresque novel – a narrative form that focused on a roguish, often lower-class individual who gets into adventures ‘on the road’, almost invariably written in the first person. Not so much wanderlust, perhaps, as living a slightly dodgy life away from home and having to constantly be on the move to stay out of trouble.
I quite liked the idea at first. And then I went to the library to pick up my reading material and instantly regretted not bringing a forklift. Each book was massive, a veritable tome. The shortest was, possibly, Tobias Smollett’s The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle (a mere 380 pages) while Laurence Sterne’s Tristram Shandy came in at more than 600 leafy bits. I was not happy.
This story is from the June 2021 edition of Robb Report Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2021 edition of Robb Report Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE POINTS OF TRAVEL
Peggy Roe of Marriott International shares the reasons why people travel and how the hotel chain is aligning with new trends.
Evening Spirits
An exclusive group of Robb Report Singapore readers was treated to an evening soiree where they savoured The Macallan's signature serves and journeyed through the brand's 200 years of expertise.
A Hotel For The Ages
Once the site of military machinations, espionage activities and multiple Bond films, he Old War Office in London's Whitehall has undergone a billion-pound-plus transformation o become The OWO and the landmark address of Raffles London at The OWO.
An Appetite For Exceptional The
Eat and rest well-like a Maldivian would-at Velaa Private Island.
Steeped In Chiang Mai's Culture
The newly opened InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping offers tailored experiences for an authentic journey through this mountainous city.
A Week In Scotland
With Scott Dunn Private, whisky aficionados looking for the finest drams can luxuriate in a bespoke amber haven in Scotland.
This Month's Feed
Only the best dining and drinking spots in Singapore.
Riding High With The Boss
Hit records, diamond-encrusted Rolexes and a car collection so vast he's lost count of what's in it-Miamibased rapper and entrepreneur Rick Ross is living his dream. But it's his latest acquisition, a tricked-out Gulfstream G550, that makes the biggest statement.
For Dubai, The Time Is Now
The bustling Middle Eastern city is emerging as an important hub for serious watch collectors around the globe.
Timing Is Everything
It doesn't matter where you are on your horological appreciation journey. There is a watch made just for you at Watches and Wonders 2024.