Thank you for these. Couldn't find much on Mr Crocker,though! However, the Captain's gardens in Galloway are open to the public as well. Maybe a visit in the spring?
R xx
Capt. McEarchern was, as far as we can gather, a confirmed batchelor. I fear R. and I when at Villa Taranto made quite unwarranted speculations about the relationship between the Captain and Mr. Crocker and goings-on between the dahlias. In these, Mr. Crocker takes on a West Country accent totally incompatible with his Galloway origins.
The English version of the Villa Taranto guide book is a treasure of its class, dropping in words such as "usifructory" and a totally opaque Post-Modern exposition of Man and Nature. Furthermore, we learn that the Captain (presumably Church of Scotland when in Galloway) converted to "Christianity" (i.e. the RC church) in his last years. It's a *must* for reading aloud while touring the gardens.
Hx
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