I’m reading what seems to me to be a jewel of a book by the poet and writing scholar Robert Graves. It’s called “The Islands of Unwisdom,” a novel of Spanish colonization in the South Pacific that takes place roughly in the same time period as Clavel’s “Shogun.” I don’t know very much about Graves other than he was a contemporary at Oxford of Tolkien and Lewis, but apparently had a less than admirable private life. He supposedly dismissed his historical novels as mere thrillers, but I find “Islands” quite captivating. I have no appetite for sentimentality in historical fiction, prefer it to be based on actual characters who lived, and enjoy insights into the clash of cultures, especially East and West. This work fits nicely into that niche, and I may also investigate his “Count Belisarius.”
Archive for the ‘History’ Category
The account of Don Andrés Serrano
Sunday, March 6th, 2005Gallant fact vs believable fiction
Monday, February 21st, 2005After the trip to Berea for Mombo’s celebration, Marty came home with us in preparation for his all-night “lock-down” at The Stadium. He had a good time, connecting with two of his old chums from Bate, but was ready to promptly crash upon his return this morning. When he woke up in the afternoon we talked about Josh for a while, got on the subject of Iwo Jima, which was fought exactly 60 years ago, and discussed how the new movie currently in production might be structured. We ended up at a site devoted to medal recipients from the battle, and after reading a few descriptions, both of us concluded that if some of these true-life sacrificial exploits were brought to the big screen, many people would think they were too unrealistic to have actually occurred. Case in point: Douglas Thomas Jacobson, USMC (born the same year as Mombo).
The Billionaire vs Poor Richard
Monday, January 31st, 2005After seeing The Aviator yesterday with our friends Lee and David, I was going nuts trying to think of another American who matched the personal attributes and range of talents possessed by Howard Hughes.
I woke up this morning with the same riddle in my head, and then I got it!
The other person in American History who best parallels the characteristics and achievements of Howard Hughes? Recognized as a leading innovator in the most popular arts and entertainment medium of his time, a known womanizer, rebel, businessman, scientist, inventor, and a technical pioneer who possessed enough daredevil in his nature to put his own life on the line when testing his concepts: Benjamin Franklin.
And when you think about it, if Ben was sitting across the table from Howard, he’d likely raise and call, because his winning hand would include diplomat and statesman, having helped orchestrate the founding of the most successful system of modern government.
Admittedly, Howard did become a billionaire, but Old Ben kept his sanity and a glowing reputation for the balance of his life, and beyond…