Arts: This was the week that was

Today On this day in 1932 it was a case of "Go West, young novelist," as William Faulkner set off for Hollywood. It wasn't just to pay the rent: he eventually worked on To Have and Have Not and The Big Sleep.

Tomorrow Dame Nellie Melba, famed for singing Donizetti's Lucia and for having an ice-cream named after her, signed up with the Gramophone Company in 1904. Her records sold out in days and she was on a healthy 25 per cent of the one guinea (pounds 1.05) retail price.

Wednesday Sir Charles Barry, architect of the rebuilt Houses of Parliament, went to the Great Speaker in the Sky in 1860, leaving his son Edward to finish the job. "John Brown's Body lies a-mouldering in his grave" was first played in 1961 at Fort Warren, near Boston, inspired by a sergeant of that name, though later taken up as an anti-slavery anthem.

Thursday Georges Braque, one of Cubism's square roots, was born in 1882. John Nash died in 1835: his designs included the terraces of Regent's Park, Trafalgar Square and Brighton Pavilion.

Friday In 1948 Ahmet Ertegun founded Atlantic Records, that made waves with Ray Charles, Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin.

Saturday Actress, dancer, pin-up and (five times) wife, Rita Hayworth died in 1987. Sony demonstrated the Mini - 2.5in - Disc in 1991.

Sunday Charles Dibdin revolutionised the music business at the Covent Garden Theatre with the first public performance of the piano in 1767 when he accompanied a Miss Bickler in a song from Arne's oratorio, Judith .