The current historic interpretation and understanding of Christopher Columbus stands as complicated. To put it mildly.
Controversy aside, Christopher Columbus figured prominently in the formation of a uniquely American cultural identity. This seems to be forgotten today amid our debates over identity politics and historical grievances.
Proof: Washington Irving, the writer with whom I’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time, penned a multi-volume biography of Columbus. Continue reading
This last May, I had lunch with Michael N. McGregor, a fellow Fordham University Press author, and talked with him about writing, navigating the publishing process, and organizing a book tour. McGregor was thoughtful, open, and gracious. After our conversation, I purchased McGregor’s book and humbly requested his inscription. Last week, I finally began Pure Act: The Uncommon Life of Robert Lax. I could not anticipate how deeply the book would affect me.
Thanks to a lull between writing deadlines, I hold the luxury of returning to other creative activities, namely this blog. In a previous post, I shared my thoughts on Netflix’s The Crown, dedicating the majority of my words to the dramatic portrayal of Winston Churchill and the masterful acting of John Lithgow.
My wife and I, both dedicated fans of British dramas and novels of morals and manners, recently watched Netflix’s The Crown, a dramatic interpretation of Queen Elizabeth II’s ascendancy to the throne of the United Kingdom and the early days of her reign. The Crown is a wonderful series with superb story-telling, gorgeous costumes, luxurious sets, and subtle acting. The show serves as a soothing balm for our age of anxiety and anger in the United States.
John Lithgow’s masterful portrayal of the legendary statesman Winston Churchill stands out as the most brilliant ingredient of the series. Lithgow’s characterization and Peter Morgan’s scripts created a complex, magnetic figure: The Crown‘s Churchill has haunted me for weeks.
