July 11


Amber pages



I particularly enjoy those many days on which the seemingly incompatible come together, or where pure coincidence conjoins them. So, today, the two ends of the spectrum of literary commentary:




First Dr. Thomas Bowdler, self-appointed censor, born today in 1754 (an essay on him in my soon-to-be-published collection of literary essays "Homage To Thomas Bowdler"). I have not listed the date of his death; however, my understanding is that 
he died in a very painful and unpleasant manner, but that that is not how posterity has chosen to represent it; much better to say that he died peacefully in his sleep, with his family all gathered around him, and his will approved by everybody with a smile).


Second Harold Bloom, heir of Eliot and Leavis, professional rival of Eagleton and Greer, no known family relationship with Leopold though he did write very positively about him: a literary critic from that school that Tom Wolfe once called "the two old piles of bones" (he was intending Mailer and Bellow, but he would likely have included Bloom); born today in 
1930.


And today in 1613, the first Romanov Czar, Michael I, was crowned (the current Czar, Putinov, was raised to the monarchy in August 1999, became Acting Czar on
December 31, 1999, but was not officially crowned until March 26, 2000)


For the background to the illustration at the top of the page, and some interesting "further reading", click here




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The Argaman Press

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