The author starts by discussing Bruce Chatwin’s observation that there are two categories of writers: those who “dig in” and those who “move.” Chatwin himself falls into the latter category, feeling paralyzed by being at home and finding inspiration by being somewhere else. The author explores the importance of place to the imagination and recounts their attempts to connect with writers through visiting their homes or places associated with them. They find that often the places are not open to the public or have been converted for other purposes, making it difficult to truly imagine the writer in that space. The author reflects on their own experiences traveling and seeking out the places where writers lived or wrote, emphasizing the connection they feel between the writer’s existence and their work. They discuss their visit to Rohet Garh in India, where Bruce Chatwin wrote “The Songlines.” They share their fascination with Chatwin’s life and style, stating that they don’t simply read a book but participate in the reading experience with the writer’s existence. The author then describes their encounter with opium ritual in a Bishnoi village, drawing connections between moving and experiencing the world and the value they find in pursuing the paths of writers who have gone before them. They conclude by reflecting on the
https://themillions.com/2023/10/in-search-of-writers-haunts-bruce-chatwin.html