I have long been of the opinion that if one is to take a trip, one ought to choose the destination with care. A sojourn in Tuscany, perhaps; a jaunt through the Alps; or, at the very least, an unhurried ramble through the English countryside, where the only fiery pits one encounters are the embers … Continue reading Through Hell and High Water: A Wanderer’s Musings on Dante’s Inferno
Tag: classics
Getting and Spending, We Lay Waste Our Powers
While wandering through the pages of Wordsworth’s works not long ago, I stumbled upon a line that latched onto my mind with an almost stubborn tenacity. My thoughts have a habit of seizing upon certain phrases, much like a dog sinking its teeth into a well-chewed bone - unwilling to let go until every last … Continue reading Getting and Spending, We Lay Waste Our Powers
Frozen Lives: A Starkfield Symphony of Misery
Prepare yourself, because we’re in for a bit of a journey here - one that’s as layered and compelling as a Starkfield winter storm. I find myself utterly fascinated by the characters in this novel, each of them a study in human frailty and resilience, so after this initial critique, I’ll be diving deeper into … Continue reading Frozen Lives: A Starkfield Symphony of Misery
The Joy of Dusty Books: Why Reading Classic Literature is the Ultimate Mind-Body Workout
Apparently, I’m boring. Old-fashioned. Out of touch with the times - all because I choose to read classic literature. Imagine that! How terribly narrow-minded, how deliciously myopic, to dismiss an entire world of profound thought, timeless insight, and exquisite artistry simply because it doesn’t come with a glossy cover and a trending hashtag. It’s an … Continue reading The Joy of Dusty Books: Why Reading Classic Literature is the Ultimate Mind-Body Workout
Elizabeth Gaskell’s Ruth: A Perilous Slog Through Moral Terrain
Drop, drop, slow tears!And bathe those beauteous feet,Which brought from heavenThe news and Prince of peace.Cease not, wet eyes,For mercy to entreat:To cry for vengeanceSin doth never cease.In your deep floodsDrown all my faults and fears;Nor let His eyeSee sin, but through my tears. Phineas Fletcher At the heart of Ruth, published in 1853, is the tale … Continue reading Elizabeth Gaskell’s Ruth: A Perilous Slog Through Moral Terrain