Author Archives: Robin Bates

Tana French, a Writer for Our Time

Tana French’s novels capture some of the mood engendered by Trumpism.

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The Pope’s Extraordinary Defense of Lit

St. Francis recently penned an extraordinary defense of literature and why it should be taught in seminaries (and elsewhere).

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Harris as Potter, Biden as Dumbledore

Think of Biden as first Harry Potter and then Dumbledore in the battle against Trump Voldemort.

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What to Make of a Diminished Month

“The Oven Bird” is a good poem to read when one is feeling old.

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Is Trump Set to Inherit the Wind?

The way that the Bryan figure deflates in “Inherit the Wind” may prefigure Trump’s demise.

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Poetry Brings Us Closer to God

Art is one of the most powerful ways to engage with religious themes.

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On Mary Oliver, Joy, and Harris-Walz

Mary Oliver’s tells us to savor joy, which is what many are doing with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

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Abdul-Jabbar on Art’s Importance

In a reflective essay on art’s importance, Abdul-Jabbar talks about his childhood love of “The Three Musketeers.”

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Virgil and the Olympic Games

The footrace in “Aeneid’s” epic games is a chaotic affair, involving some actual cheating.

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