Brundage’s magnificent crime novel “All Things Cease to Appear” frustrates our longing for accountability—as does DJT.
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Monthly Archives: December 2025
How Sociopaths Like DJT Escape Justice
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged accountability, All Things Cease to Appear, crime novel, Donald Trump, Elizabeth Bundage, Heart of Darkness, Importance of Being Earnest, Joseph Conrad, King Lear, Oscar Wilde, William Shakespeare Comments closed
Historical Fiction Is about the Present
Two recent historical novels, about Irish Boston and Bleeding Kansas, capture today’s tumult and they look backward.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Bleeding Kansas, Civil War, Dennis Lehane, forced busing, integration, racism, Small Mercies, Surrection, Will Martin Comments closed
The Bus Boycott’s Invisible Actors
Rita Dove’s “Claudette Colvin Goes to Work” honors those anonymous actors in significant historical change.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged “Claudette Colvin Goes to Work", Civil Rights Movement, Claudette Colvin, Montgomery bus boycott, Rita Dove Comments closed
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
“Christ the Apple Tree,” an 18th century poem turned into Christmas carol, may have pagan origins.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged “Christ the Apple Tree", Book of Revelation, Celtic Christianity, Richard Hutchins, Song of Solomon Comments closed
Hegseth, Banquo, and Murders at Sea
Pete Hegseth denying he gave the order to kill survivors of a Navy attack is reminiscent of Macbeth distancing himself from Banquo’s murder.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Macbeth, Navy’s small craft attacks, Pete Hegseth, William Shakespeare Comments closed
Stoppard (R.I.P.) and a Cancer Discovery
An instance of Arcadia by the recently deceased Tom Stoppard leading to a cancer breakthrough
Macduff as the Trump Resistance
“Macbeth” is probably the best Shakespearean play for capturing the Trump presidency and Trump resistance.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Donald Trump, King Lear, Macbeth, Pete Hegseth, William Shakespeare Comments closed