A succession of visiting writers has considered that heart to be sour, even rotten.

A programme of visiting writers includes Swedish author and cultural historian Sven Lindqvist and novelist Jeanette Winterson.

There was a hotel on Nackstromsgaten where he put up visiting writers, and he went there when things became too turbulent at home.

The friendships he made with visiting writers during his time with the British Council proved an advantage when he returned to Britain in 1966.

In the Taisho period it was completely renovated as a two-story building, with the addition of magnificent guest rooms for visiting writers and artists.