Books by Robert Ponsonby

In former times it was the practice to draw a kindly veil over the idiosyncracies of others, but now we are told that the public needs to know the truth and so a character or a life is opened up to the public gaze in ways formerly unheard of, warts and all. How refreshing then, to read Robert Ponsonby's collection of portraits which steer such a well-judged course between the light and darker sides of the human condition and give us a balanced picture of his subjects. He has a delightful turn of phrase and describes aspects of character which I found immediately recognizable and true.