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Lead book review

Roy Strong’s towering egotism is really rather engaging

Stephen Bayley recalls his (mainly enjoyable) encounters with the flamboyant former museum director

5 December 2020

9:00 AM

5 December 2020

9:00 AM

Types and Shadows: The Roy Strong Diaries 2004-2015 Roy Strong

Weidenfeld & Nicolson, pp.530, 25

There is nothing wrong with being self-invented. The most interesting people in the world designed themselves. And in this matter Roy Strong, once upon a time the director of the Victoria & Albert Museum and National Portrait Gallery, can offer a master class. He has discovered the mines of self-invention to be very deep and richly seamed with treasure.

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