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Men of Letters
A reference for good literature.
We’ve Moved
January 5th, 2010Calls to drop the idea of re-interring Camus
November 23rd, 2009
One one thinks of modern French literature, the first name that invariably pops up is that of Albert Camus. His shadow looms large over the ouvre of world literature, and he is still seen as an icon in his home country (no, not Algeria, where he was actually born).
So it came as quite a shock when French President Nicolas Sarkozy made mention that perhaps Camus’ ashes should be re-interred to The Pantheon, where most French heroes call their final resting home. The fact that Camus identified with the Left is seen as particularly irksome to some of his legions of fans, which is a shame, but the final decision rests with the family, not the government.
Samuel Johnson and the Virtue of Capitalism
September 11th, 2009
Eliza Grey at the Wall Street Journal writes about the great English polymath Samuel Johnson. Though noted for compiling the first authoritative English dictionary, he was also keen on promoting the benefits of capitalism, something modern political thinkers would do themselves well to learn about, since Communism, Fascism and the like have proven to be utter failures.
An Exchange with Jytte Klausen on the Missing Cartoons
August 25th, 2009
Roger Kimball of New Criterion and author Jytte Klausen have an exchange over The Cartoons that Shook the World, which Yale University Press has decided to edit rather than support its author.
‘Reflections on the Revolution in Europe’ by Christopher Caldwell
August 25th, 2009Tim Rutten, a left-of-center columnist at The Los Angeles Times, gives a surprisingly fair review to Christopher Caldwell’s new work regarding Europe’s changing demographic situation.
German Jews back campaign to reprint ‘Mein Kampf’
August 23rd, 2009It’s about time. Banning the work has made it from a literary so-so read into a forbidden fruit among Germany’s disillusioned and a tool used by some people without context. Ofer Aderet of Ha’aretz writes on this strange and interesting development in Germany here.
How Did This Happen?
August 6th, 2009Indeed, how? I have my political biases, but the New York Times has earned its place as one of the most important newspapers on Earth. That a paper of its esteem couldn’t get the obituary of one of the most famous newsmen to ever exist, Walter Cronkite, right is unconscionable from a journalistic standpoint. Clark Hoyt, the Public Editor, lambastes the paper he rights for, and with good reason. His article can be read here.
‘If you do not speak Siwu to me in my home, I will not pay your school fees!’
August 3rd, 2009If the use of a bit of force and bribery is necessary for languages to be protected, I’m all for it. Language is a wonderful gift to humanity, and though I love the beauty and flexibility of English, I see it as right that good men and women continue to do what they can to preserve a tangiable part of their heritage. Mark Dingemanse writes of the protection of the Siwu language in Ghana at The Ideophone, a blog on African languages.