This volume of the magnificent Golden Bough by James George Frazer handles a phenomenon called The Scapegoat. Now if you were raised in a Christian surrounding, like me, who grew up in a community that is 99,99% catholic then you will probably think that it deals exclusively with Jesus and his impact upon the world. […]
Listen to the Librivox version. Props to the reader Rom Maczka. I don’t think there were any issues and managed to make every single sentence come to life. You can find more of his splended reading here. First time reading Anatole France, most certainly not the last. I went into the book blank, not even […]
“Our insignificance may save us”
This is a huge time jump from the last post, probably the largest I will ever take. From Beauty and the Beast to All That Earthly Remains there is over a hundred-year gap. But, none the less, they are both worth examining. I never heard about the author before, and from the moment I picked […]
Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve (1685-1755) She was born and raised in a powerful protestant French family. Now largely forgotten, she was one of the most prolific and commercially successful writers of her time. She wrote fairy tales as well as novels. The book that is considered her masterpiece is called La Jardinière de Vincennes. The title we most remember […]
Claire de Duras Not much is known about the life of Claire de Duras. What we do know of her is that she was a duchess of Duras. She was born in France but had moved to London during the French Revolution. There she met another French exile who will influence her career greatly Chateaubriand. […]
Firstly, let me say a few things about the inspiration behind this post and why I hope it will turn into a regular series. I love Project Gutenberg. There are always a lot of talented people, in every job, occupation, calling that either fall through the cracks of time or get compressed. What I mean […]
Wisdom only comes through suffering. Aeschylus
Julian is a story about a man, and just that is the greatest triumph of Vidals work. Be it a film or book about a significant historical figure, the figure is usually treated like a Ubermensch or Saint, ignoring the most interesting part, the contradictions and complexities of their person. Bad authors can’t help but […]
In her seminal books the Writing life, Annie Dillard lays out numerous advices for novice writers. Below I have summarized a few which I consider the most significant 1. Even the foundation walls must fall 2. Reading your own words too often can cause the illusion of quality 3. The amount of work doesn’t matter, […]
What To Consume 