This week's links. Enjoy.
Charles Dickens's World of Interiors
Charles Dickens was fascinated with interior decoration and threw himself into the choosing of furniture, paint colours and wallpaper designs. Check out this slideshow of his first home at 48 Doughty Street in London (now the Charles Dickens Museum), his holiday home in Broadstairs, Kent, and Gad's Hill Place, Kent, where he died in 1870.
Imagined Lives Out of False Portraits
Recently the National Portrait Gallery in London posed an intriguing question: what do you do with all the discredited paintings of princes, aristocrats, writers, once it's been shown that art historians got it wrong? A thought provoking essay from the TLS.
David Lynch Loves Coffee
A lot, actually. Check out this great little essay by Lynch explaining just why he loves it so much.
Malcolm Gladwell on Spaghetti Sauce
Author of iconic books such as Blink and The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell brings his inquiring mind to bear on spaghetti sauce, and as always it's fascinating.
Top 10 Books of the Night
Author Ian Marchant picks ten books that examine the mysterious world that emerges when the sun goes down.
Miniature Collapsible Paper Cities
Amsterdam-based artist Ingrid Siliakus creates extraordinary and highly intricate pop-up miniature works of architecture out of paper, inspired by artist M.C. Escher. Amazing.
Learn 40 Languages for Free
The always wonderful Open Culture has put together links to free courses in 40 different languages — download audio lessons to your computer or mp3 player and you’re good to go. Super handy if you're planning on traveling — or if you're tired of reading movie subtitles!
Coconut Red Lentil Soup
Not only a fantastic combination of flavours, but easy to make, too. This is definitely going to become a favourite during the winter months. Via 101 Cookbooks (thanks to Carly for the link).
(lovely photo by petrina tinslay)