Wittgenstein placed his remote home where everyone could see it. He was an oddly ostentatious recluse — Several factors conspired to make that first visit to Wittgenstein’s retreat magical. One was an element of serendipity. We hadn’t gone to Norway to visit Skjolden. But then neither had Wittgenstein. In October 1913, when he arrived at… Continue reading Wittgenstein’s retreat
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Heading to the international airwaves
I appreciated Greg’s invitation last year to select music for The Voice Of Cassandre. I’ll be back spinning wax on the Greek airwaves on May 26 (6 p.m. Athens time) and in France, beginning May 28 at 8 p.m. in Paris. Adjust your lives accordingly.
Your own star-gazing suit
If you’re like me, you’re usually standing around wondering how to dress like an 18th-century astronomer. So imagine my pleasure when I found : How to Dress Like and 18th-Century Astronomer over at AltasObscura. The suit is insulated with wool and flannel, and boasts a pair of built-in slippers to keep [Nevil] Maskelyne’s toes nice… Continue reading Your own star-gazing suit
Harper Lee’s true crime story
Casey Cep, who seems to be The New Yorker’s resident Harper Lee expert, is out with a Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee from Knopf. Alexandra Alter at The New York Times had a nice Q&A with her earlier this month. There are two intertwined mysteries at the heart of… Continue reading Harper Lee’s true crime story
Marisa Anderson should be in your earholes
Marisa Anderson (@MarisaMusic) is called an “experimental” guitarist, though I confess I don’t know what folks mean by that. The Portland, Oregon musician is an amazing guitarist. Above is a great little set she did at NPR and here’s an interview she did at BOMB. What is the sonic equivalent of a cloud? And how… Continue reading Marisa Anderson should be in your earholes
What Monty Python taught George Saunders
LitHub had a Q&A with George Saunders, which provided this gem -> Which non-literary piece of culture—film, tv show, painting, song—could you not imagine your life without? Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It comes out of a very smart place that is political and yet never forgets to entertain and self-lacerate and be silly. For… Continue reading What Monty Python taught George Saunders
Denis Johnson’s final novel
J. Robert Lennon, who teaches at Cornell and is a heck of a story writer himself, has a piece in The Nation about Denis Johnson’s The Largess of the Sea Maiden and this book’s relation to Jesus’ Son. “I’ve gone looking for that feeling everywhere,” Fuckhead tells us in “Car Crash,” a line that also… Continue reading Denis Johnson’s final novel
The Strange Case of the Missing Joyce Scholar
Jack Hitt had an amazing piece in the New York Times about John Kidd, “once celebrated as the greatest James Joyce scholar alive.” Two decades ago, a renowned professor promised to produce a flawless version of one of the 20th century’s most celebrated novels: “Ulysses.” Then he disappeared. Keep reading >>
Steve Weddle 