Tag Archives: Goethe

The Stories behind Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice

I think that Pride & Prejudice is the best English novel, ever. Is that too much? Perhaps it is, but I’m a fan, and in the world of non-fantasy prose storytelling it is about as good as it gets for … Continue reading

Posted in Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 40 Comments

A Level of Hell that Dante Forgot: A Note from Discworld

Terry Pratchett is about as weird and wonderful an author as I could ever want. A master world-builder, he trades in irony, parody, and satire the way the TV show Glee trades in stereotypes. And yet, despite the constant self-degradation … Continue reading

Posted in Fictional Worlds, Memorable Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

The Sorrows of Young Goethe

Let me tell you a story. In the summer of 1772, 245 years ago, a young Johann Wolfgang von Goethe took a position articling in Wetzlar, Germany. He wasn’t a very good lawyer, however, and spent most of his time … Continue reading

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The Wildwood in The Decemberists

Last week I reviewed Wildwood by Colin Melot and Carson Ellis. Colin Melot, who is the literary creator of the NewYorkTimes bestseller Wildwood Chronicles, is also the chief lyricist for Grammy-award winning The Decemberists. One might wonder what children’s writing … Continue reading

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