Kingsolver answering questions about the lit that shaped her can get us all reflecting on the importance of books in our lives.
Tag Archives: Victor Hugo
The Song of Angry Americans
As Trump attends a performance of “Les Misérables,” I apply passages from the novel to his military crackdown on protest.
Singing the Song of Angry Men
Suddenly Victor Hugo’s revolutionary energies apply to the United States after years of our being complacent about our democracy.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Donald Trump, Fascism, fight for freedom, Freedom, Les Misérables, Revolution Comments closed
Notre Dame: Two Arms Raised in Prayer
To celebrate France reopening Notre Dame to visitors, here’s a 19th century poem honoring the cathedral.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Notre Dame", "Staircase of Notre Dame", architecture, Daniel Gabriel Rossetti, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Notre Dame cathedral, Notre Dame de Paris, Théophile Gautier Comments closed
Comstock and L. Leo as Hugo’s Javert
Billionaire and Catholic fanatic Leonard Leo wants to bring back the Comstock Act. In his relentlessness, think of him as Hugo’s Javert.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Abortion, Anthony Comstock, Leonard Leo, Misérables, SCOTUS Comments closed
The Opening Ceremonies Explained
To appreciate the opening ceremonies in the Paris Olympics, it helps to know some French literature.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Alexander Dumas, Arsène Lupin, Assassin''s Creed, Gaston Leroux, Les Misérables, Man in a Iron Mask, Maurice Leblanc, Paris Olympics, Phantom of the Opera Comments closed
Is Jack Smith a Javert?
A Trump co-conspirator is complaining that special counsel Jack Smith is like Javert. I explore the comparison.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Donald Trump, Jack Smith, January 6 insurrection, Jeffrey Clark, Justice, Miserables Comments closed
Zelensky as Hugo’s Enjolras
Ukrainian president bears a striking resemblance to Hugo’s Enjorlas in “Les Misérables.”
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Les Misérables, Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky Comments closed
Jean Valjean, Good Samaritan
“Les Misérables” features two of literature’s great Good Samaritan figures.
