Tag Archives: Leo Tolstoy

Harold Bloom’s Canon: The Essential List

On Monday I introduced Harold Bloom‘s 1994 bestseller, The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages. I decided to create a “canonical list” in today’s blog for those who are inclined to try to soak in this great radition. Taking … Continue reading

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Harold Bloom’s “The Western Canon”

  Harold Bloom’s The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages was a sensation when it appeared in 1994. Harold Bloom, a curmudgeonly anti-academic ivy league scholar, fills this challenging read with fresh insights on every page. He … Continue reading

Posted in Original Research, Reviews, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

12 Reasons not to Write Lord of the Rings, or an Ode Against the Muses

I’ve never understood images of the Muses as seducers. Perhaps I am not truly inspired, but I get the same cold, clammy response from the Muses as I did from girls when I was in Junior High School. Fortunately, I … Continue reading

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Tolstoy’s “Religion and Morality”

In a post responding to the firestorm or criticism in the America media regarding Kirk Cameron’s understanding of homosexuality, I offered a critique of the media’s simplistic response, but focused on a critique of Cameron. I argued, specifically, that he … Continue reading

Posted in Memorable Quotes, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments