FROM TOM DAVIES. PERSONAL REFLECTION:

Retirement takes us in some very interesting directions. My 40-year-plus passion for collecting American art somehow merged with my younger son Kristian’s passion for writing, first as a freelance writer for magazines and local art galleries, then as author of his first well-received book, Artists of Cape Ann: A 150-Year Tradition. This was followed by a lengthy, very ambitious work devoted to his fascination with 19th-century American and European artists working throughout the Middle East, Russia and India. In a post-9/11 world it became clear Kristian would have to do this on his own; traditional approaches to publishing would not work. So my son formed his own company, Laynfaroh Publishers, and I quickly found myself immersed in the world of independent publishing, which resulted in the publication of Kristian’s award-winning book, The Orientalists: Western Artists In Arabia, The Sahara, Persia and India. Quite a number of ’62s have acquired it.

During 2005 my son and I traveled extensively. Kristian gave about 25 lectures with book signings. The highlight was a visit to Cairo where he spoke at the American University in Cairo, at the American Research Center of Egypt, and was hosted by the United States Ambassador to Egypt, Francis Ricciardone ’71, at the American Embassy. During all of this I was delighted to “take a back seat” and watch my son take center stage. I was frequently reminded by the words of my wife Marianne, “You’ve had your day. Now it’s time to back off.” But this was not to be. My son Kristian was—cautiously at first, then with increasing pressure—encouraging me to “write my story,” to recount the events of 40 years: the often hilarious experiences, the unique people I’ve encountered (artists, museum personnel, dealers, other collectors, and the occasional huckster or con-artist), together with the joy and pleasure this odyssey has brought me.

I began the project somewhat reluctantly a bit less than two years ago, but I quickly threw myself into it with the result that Laynfaroh Publishers now has its second major book, Collecting Stories: 400 Paintings, 400 Stories. This is a large 360-page book lavishly illustrated with 420 color images focused on the work of 236 American artists. I have tried to make this very different from other books about the lifelong pursuits of the obsessed collector. It is a first-person narrative, revealing much about family connections from my father to me and to my sons; but it is also about the art, the artists, and the diverse periods and styles, including the 19th-century Hudson River School, Impressionists, expatriates in Europe and the Middle East, the art of the American West, Illustrators, and Contemporary artists. There are high points (discovering lost or unrecorded works) and low points (stealing the family’s food money to buy a painting), which I think will make enjoyable reading regardless of one’s interest in art or collecting anything. Above all, I think it’s fun and I hope Dartmouth’s art and English professors would admit my education in a pre-Hopkins/Hood era was not a total failure.

For those interested in learning more, or perhaps (here it comes) acquiring a copy of Collecting Stories, please phone (203) 972-1533, fax (203) 966-3918, email ed673@ca.rr.com, or write: Thomas Davies, 58 Beacon Hill Lane, New Canaan, Connecticut. Price: $80 plus s/h: $6. Cash, check, m/o payable to Laynfaroh Publishers or visit Tom's publisher's website http://www.laynfaroh.com/