I have been diving into eighteenth century France for some reason (…circumspice) and my reading has veering into the historical, albeit through fiction. No surprise: I learned most of my history from fiction — books, television, films — because Americans are not generally taught history so much as a narrative of Manifest Destiny. Which is…
Tag: reading
What I’ve Been Reading
I had a bunch of things on the go; end of summer, last orgy of ‘fun’ reading before the semester starts and reading tends to focus on what lies ahead both in teaching and other work. Good thing I have cut back on conferences — just one this fall — but the semester is off…
What I’ve Been Reading
Because I have to wait on some things — always irksome — I will quickly (very quickly) mention a few things I’ve been reading so you will not think I am simply lazing around (although some of the books are meant to be exactly that). Also doubtless I will leave out all the research-oriented things…
Got Gothic? Turney’s The Other One (1952)
The Dell paper back edition: ‘Black magic — and a modern sorceress!’ That ghastly green: I love it. Last week’s film Back from the Dead was based on this mid-century Gothic thriller and scripted by the author, who certainly streamlined the narrative — perhaps a little too much. By coincidence (or due to us both…
HB Muriel: Re-Reading The Abbess of Crewe
THE ABBESS OF CREWE It is Muriel Spark’s birthday and I just re-read this so it seems apropos to write about it, too. I just re-read it for the obvious reason that it was inspired by the shenanigans of an impeached president and now we have another impeached ‘president’ who proves just as mendacious and…
Coming Up: Divine Write & We The Humanities
Beginning of the semester is always busy and this one is no exception. Things coming up where you might run into me — apart from as always the productive Write 4 a Day sessions — include the 2nd Sunday @ 2 reading in Troy, as well as two new events. Divine Write is a new…
Back to Scotland
Grades are in, things are done, or sorted or packed away until autumn in New York and I am on my way back to Dundee today. My bags are full of electronics, cables, books, folders, notebooks and, where there’s room, clothes. Many projects to work on, but there will be fun and reading, too. When…
Packing for a Getaway
I started the day teaching from the Sermo Lupi and making comparisons to current apocalyptic predictions. In 1014, Wulfstan made similar prognostications about the lack of a future, due of course to our sinfulness, leofan men. I tried to point out to them that medieval folk would have had many of the same reactions as…