This 1955 book by Milton Mayer, reissued in 2017 by University of Chicago Press with a helpful afterword by Richard Evans, is worth your time if you are interested in human beings. Mayer, a Chicago native, worked as a freelance journalist and taught Great Books seminars with Mortimer Adler and Robert Hutchins (he gets a… Continue reading They Thought They Were Free
Month: January 2019
Swatch watch
Since writing my post on whether the venerable but awkward term “swath/swathe” is being replaced by “swatch,” I’ve been keeping an eye out for all these words. So far, I can report 6 sightings of “swath” in articles and blog comment sections and 1 sighting of “swathe” (in this rather amusing account of a non-incident… Continue reading Swatch watch
Senta spinnt
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra put on an excellent concert performance of Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman) last week. Soprano Melody Moore brought the house down with her powerful singing and her spirited characterization of Senta. Speaking as someone with a degree in Complaining About Wagner, I must admit I really like this opera. It’s probably my favorite Wagner opera… Continue reading Senta spinnt