Category Archives: literature

city as palimpsest, redux

“Richard Lehan* has pointed out the impact of urban archaeology’s ‘discovery of layered cities’ – notably Heinrich Schliemann’s discoveries in Troy (1871) and Arthur Evans’ in Crete (Knossos, 1876) – upon modernist urban literature. Urban fantasy has been particularly influenced … Continue reading

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in medias res

Now begin in the middle, and later learn the beginning; the end will take care of itself. —in “‘Repent, Harlequin!’ Said the Ticktock Man” by Harlan Ellison …and on $150,000 worth of jelly beans falling from the sky (because who … Continue reading

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city as palimpsest

“The city that Joyce portrays in Dubliners has both receded into the distant past and remained insistently visible; Dublin, like all cities, is a sort of palimpsest, in which the past is always and everywhere legible beneath the surface of … Continue reading

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we cannot escape history

December 1, 1862 – annual message to congress – Lincoln -Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration, will be remembered in spite of ourselves. November 19, 1863 – “Gettysburg Address” – Lincoln -The world will … Continue reading

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poetry and prose and translation

part of Author’s Note on The Joke pg 320 by Milan Kundera in the 5th English language translation, regarding his preface to the 4th English language translation: At Aaron’s [Asher – editor at Harper & Row] request, I wrote a … Continue reading

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