Anything to do with Hardy and I simply can't resist. This post was born of some hastily scribbled notes for an unappreciative, fledgling. but short-lived book club many years ago. After a spit and polish, the result is as follows. Enjoy. Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure is a novel that takes you on a journey through the … Continue reading Jude the Obscure: Woe, Woe and more Woe
Author: Robert
A fifty-something, retired Celestial Travel Agent and Afterlife Preparation Specialist. Walked many paths; some good, lots bad. Meandering through a difficult past, plodding in the present, crawling toward the future. I've studied English Literature, and hold a BA (Hons) Hum. (History & Art History) & MA (Humanities with English Literature)
The Spectacle of Mr. Polly: A Tragicomedy of the Mildly Absurd – and then some.
Yesterday, I found myself deeply overwhelmed, though I kept it hidden as best I could as I accompanied my dear dad to the hospital for his first round of chemotherapy. He turns ninety this Sunday, a milestone I cherish even as we navigate this difficult journey. Having helped him care for his late partner, and … Continue reading The Spectacle of Mr. Polly: A Tragicomedy of the Mildly Absurd – and then some.
An Unlikely Odd Couple: Aesop’s The Charcoal-Burner & The Fuller
Since it’s been about four days since our last dive into one of Aesop’s fables, I decided it was high time for another. I simply can’t resist! These whimsical yet deeply meaningful tales never fail to captivate me, and I’m determined to explore every single one. They’re wonderfully convenient, too, as I can write, refine, … Continue reading An Unlikely Odd Couple: Aesop’s The Charcoal-Burner & The Fuller
Moonlit Melodrama with Monks: The Italian
Most of what you'll read below was penned during a rather protracted hospital stay in the early 2000s. With nothing but time and an overabundance of iodine baths on my hands, I voraciously devoured Radcliffe's novel and then furiously scribbled this critique. It was, admittedly, a bit rough around the edges in its original form, … Continue reading Moonlit Melodrama with Monks: The Italian
Snoozing Through the Ages: Rip Van Winkle
Just the name of this protagonist activates my chuckle muscle - imagine introducing yourself with this moniker to a purveyor of sea-foods! Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle is a tale that has intrigued readers for over two centuries, not just because of its fantastical plot, but because it taps into the universal desire to avoid … Continue reading Snoozing Through the Ages: Rip Van Winkle
Wording 