Tag Archives: Mark Twain

Fantasy Keeps Dreams Alive

Thursday In Monday’s and Tuesday’s posts (see here and here), I laid out the outlines of my first “Wizards and Enchantresses” class, which I’m currently teaching as part of Sewanee’s Lifelong Learning Program. The first class I devoted to Merlin, the second will focus on Morgan Le Fay, the third will take up Shakespeare’s Prospero, […]

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Trump Lying, Modern Day Shout-Boasting?

Mark Twain depicts the verbal art of shout boasting. Maybe Trump operates out of this tradition.

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The Novels that Shaped John McCain

McCain’s favorite novels included “Great Gatsby,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Huckleberry Finn,” and works by Somerset Maugham. One can understand why.

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Pap Would Have Voted for Trump

“Last place aversion” accounts for white resentment of safety net programs. Huck’s father is an example of the process at work.

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Lost in a Cave

The scouts rescued from in a flooded cave bring to mind the Tom-Becky story in “Tom Sawyer.”

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My “Last Lecture”

I share here my “last lecture” from my retirement ceremony. (But rest assured: I will not be retiring from this blog.)

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Studying for Exams, Risks & Rewards

For all those cramming madly for exams, this “Tom Sawyer” episode is for you.

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Beware of Literature’s Purity Police

Laura Moriarty’s “American Heart” has been attacked for being a white savior narrative. Such stories should in fact be critiqued, but the attackers are often a bigger problem.

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How Moliere Is Saving France

Moliere is helping French PM Macron steer a sane middle road between rightwing and leftwing purists.

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