I’m sure you’ve been wondering why archaeologist James Mellaart, after three highly successful seasons excavating in Turkey at the neolithic settlement of Catalhoyuk in 1961 through 1963, was denied a permit to dig in 1964 and again in 1966. Mellaart’s excavations at Catalhoyuk had unearthed a huge Stone Age city, […]
In her book Wickford Tales, excerpted in the June, 1965 edition of American Heritage, Anita W. Hinckley recalls life in a Rhode Island town around the turn of the century. “I was always glad to get back from Europe,” she writes, “to Wickford, where things were happening,” She writes about […]
After watching Ken Burns’ documentary about the Roosevelts, I decided to read a book I picked up at a tag sale years ago: The President’s Man by Elliott Roosevelt, FDR’s son. Elliott Roosevelt served with distinction in the Army Air Corps in World War II during the Allied invasion of […]
“In April 1894, a middle-aged gentleman, bearing a load of dresses, was rowed to the deepest part of the Venetian lagoon. A strange scene followed: he began to drown the dresses, one by one. There were a good many, well-made, tasteful, and all dark, suggesting a lady of quiet habits […]
I stayed up way past my bedtime Saturday night when I found that Connecticut Public Television was airing the four-part 1990 BBC series House of Cards. The screenplay was adapted by Andrew Davies from a novel by Michael Dobbs, former chief of staff at the Conservative Party. They’ve made an […]
I’m devouring two delicious books about Abraham Lincoln that I found at the Whately Antiquarian Book Center: Lincoln by Philip Kunhardt Jr. and his sons Philip and Peter, derived from a documentary made for ABC, and The Lincoln Reader, edited by Paul M. Angle. Lincoln is such a well-known […]
I learned a lot reading Bruce Catton’s book Grant Takes Command, and it was enjoyable reading, given the grim subject matter. The book, the third in a series begun by Lloyd Lewis, begins right after Grant’s victory at Vicksburg, and gives a great description of his subsequent victory at Chatanooga. […]
“Le canard, le saumon, et le couchon Ont donné leur vies Pour provider mon bon petit déjeuner Au Chateau Frontenac.” “The duck, the salmon, and the pig Have given their lives To provide my lovely breakfast At the Chateau Frontenac.” Just two days in Quebec, and I’m writing poetry in French, […]
Just back from the New France Festival in Quebec, where I had an absolutely fabulous time. I stayed for four days at the iconic Chateau Frontenac, toured the verdant countryside of the Ile D’Orleans, dined at all the magnificent restaurants, and dressed up in elaborate 17th Century costumes to celebrate […]
Last Sunday I got a chance to visit with Joe McCarthy of Greenfield, one of my favorite artists, who was displaying some paintings from his gold period at a delightful garden party with lots of delightful people.