Category Archives: Literature

THE ENDING OF MEASURE FOR MEASURE—THE DIRECTOR’S PREROGATIVE.

Posted on November 12, 2018 by Philip

THE ENDING OF MEASURE FOR MEASURE—THE DIRECTOR’S PREROGATIVE. Note that those alternative endings do not change the words of Shakespeare’s script. Thus they are consistent with a contemporary theory that the director should have discretion to change any action in … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Shakespeare, Theater | Leave a comment

TWO MOSAICS FROM A CLASSICAL LATRINE.

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Philip

TWO MOSAICS FROM A CLASSICAL LATRINE. Another new archaeological discovery was reported by Cheyenne MacDonald in an article in the Daily Mail (November 6, 2018). They are two mosaics from a latrine in Turkey from 1800 years ago (approximately 200 … Continue reading →

Posted in art, History, Literature | Leave a comment

“DIFFICULTIES IN DEALING WITH AN AMERICAN CLASSIC”.

Posted on November 1, 2018 by Philip

DIFFICULTIES IN DEALING WITH AN AMERICAN CLASSIC”. When I posted in defense of Mark Twain a couple days ago (October 29), I said that: “There is much discussion in this issue of Twain’s place in the canon.” “SA” (whom I … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature | Leave a comment

THE MARKETING OF THE FIRST FOLIO A CENTURY AFTER SHAKESPEARE DIED.

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Philip

THE MARKETING OF THE FIRST FOLIO A CENTURY AFTER SHAKESPEARE DIED. Mary Jane told me about the three fortunate events in the early 1700’s that led to the publishing success of the First Folio before she made her post on … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Shakespeare, Theater | Leave a comment

THE COMMERCIAL SUCCESS OF THE FIRST FOLIO IN THE 18TH CENTURY.

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Philip

THE COMMERCIAL SUCCESS OF THE FIRST FOLIO IN THE 18TH CENTURY. Mary Jane writes: I am in the process of reading an amazing book by a prize-winning American author named Paul Collins. This book, published in 2009, is called THE … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, History, Literature, Shakespeare, Theater | Leave a comment

MARK TWAIN’S SENTENCES.

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Philip

MARK TWAIN’S SENTENCES. Daniel Karlin has a review of five recent books about Mark Twain in the TLS (October 19, 2018). Mark Twain doesn’t come out very well. Karlin says: “He has limitations that would sink most writers: not only … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature | Leave a comment

“LET’S GO TO THE TRANS-LUX AND HISS ROOSEVELT.”

Posted on October 28, 2018 by Philip

“LET’S GO TO THE TRANS-LUX AND HISS ROOSEVELT.” My second comment on the New Yorker “Fat Cats” cover is that it is maintaining a New Yorker tradition which stretches back to the twenties and thirties—-the cartoons and comic pieces featuring … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Literature | Leave a comment

FAT CATS AND THE NEW YORKER.

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Philip

FAT CATS AND THE NEW YORKER. Tyler Cowen at the Marginal Revolution site links to this comment on the current New Yorker cover, entitled “Fat Cats”. The link shows the cover which features stout rich men smoking cigars and drinking … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Literature | Leave a comment

OTHER THINGS CHANGED AND UNCHANGED IN THE EDITING OF GATSBY.

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Philip

OTHER THINGS CHANGED AND UNCHANGED IN THE EDITING OF GATSBY. Sarah Graham identifies some other editing decisions in revising GATSBY that are not structural but which add to the felicities that are everywhere in the book: * “Daisy” was originally … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature | Leave a comment

SOME STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN GATSBY.

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Philip

SOME STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN GATSBY. I have posted on GATSBY a large number of times. Sarah Graham had a review in the TLS (August 17, 2018) of a new edition of the manuscript, edited by James West III and Don … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature | Leave a comment