For the Time Being

First published in 1998, For the Time Being brings together virtually all of Dirk Bogarde's published work outside of his novels and autobiographies, with a specially written introduction and new reflections on several of the pieces. In 1988, Dirk Bogarde returned from two idyllic decades in France to live in England, due to his partner's serious illness. Shortly afterwards, the then Literary Editor of the Daily Telegraph, admiring the 'lucid frankness' of Bogarde's memoirs, invited him to review some books for the newspaper. This collection includes the famous article 'A Short Walk from Harrods', which Bogarde wrote for the Independent on Sunday soon after returning to London. In it he describes what it feels like to walk among familiar ghosts and to dine with those he considers 'the living dead'. A momentous review of three Holocaust books is accompanied by an article in which he describes the extraordinary postbag he received from its readers. In another piece which had a profound impact, he gives forceful vent to his support for euthanasia. It stands as a testimony to a wonderfully varied life, a wide range of interests and sympathies, and a remarkable gift for writing.