Annie Dillard--An American ChildhoodA magical moment in a writer's life is when you read a book--and realize the similarities between the writers' subject matter, and your own raw material. You think, Hmm, I could do this. Then you look at the … [Continue reading]
In which Celebrate Jan Hus, The Czech Republic’s Heroic, Naive and Tragic “John Wycliffe”
Jan Hus is an iconic figure in Prague. He was peasant born, but a follower of the John Wycliffe, the English reformer. He preached in the language of the masses (Czech) against the wealth, corruption and hierarchical tendencies within the church. … [Continue reading]
Patricia Hampl–A Romantic Education.
Patricia Hampl--A Romantic EducationOne of the magical moments in a writer's life is the moment when you read something with a sense of recognition--I can do that too!! Seamus Heaney describes his unpleasant adventures with frog spawn and … [Continue reading]
Prague–The Fruits of Peace
Prague: The Fruits of PeacePrague is gorgeous--largely because it escaped bombing in the second world war!Roy and I are taking a course in Medieval Continental Cathedrals at Oxford University this term. The lecturer, Hubert Pragnell, showed us some … [Continue reading]
The Village of Ewelme, Oxfordshire
The Village of Ewelme, Oxfordshire The Village of Ewelme, Oxfordshire We had an idyllic wander last weekend, though Ewelme, Oxfordshire, which must be one of the world's most beautiful villages, though not as celebrated … [Continue reading]
John McPhee on Writing Creative Nonfiction
John McPhee, The Art of Nonfiction No. 3Paris Review InterviewsInterviewed by Peter HesslerPRINT|TWITTER|FACEBOOK|MOREJohn Angus Mcphee was born in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1931, attended college in his hometown, and still lives there today. He … [Continue reading]
Creating the Taste by Which You are Enjoyed (T.S. Eliot)
Creating the Taste by Which You Are Enjoyed I love T.E. Eliot's poetry and prose--well as much as I understand of them. He did a genuinely new thing. One of the perceptive things he said is that the original writer must create the taste by which … [Continue reading]
Prophets, Deserts and Alternative Power
Prophets, Deserts and Alternative Power SourcesI was thinking last evening of prophets. It is interesting how many of them had to go out into the Judean desert to hear the word of God.Why? I used to wonder. Why did one need to go into the … [Continue reading]
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