Bloomsday is a celebration that takes place both in Dublin and around the world. It celebrates Thursday 16 June 1904, which is the day depicted in James Joyce’s novel “Ulysses”. The celebration is derived from Leopold Bloom, the name of the protagonist of the novel, which follows the life and thoughts of this and many… Read More 16 June: BLOOMSDAY
One hundred and eighty years ago, on 14 June 1837 the Italian poet Giacomo Leopardi, (1798 –1837) died . He was a famous romantic author, philosopher, essayist and philologist. In 1819 he wrote “L’Infinito”, a poem which deals with the beauty of the concept of negative capability, and contains philosophical meditations on limitations, mortality and… Read More Giacomo Leopardi: 14 June 1837
June 8, 1949: George Orwell’s 1984 On 8th June 1949 George Orwell published his dystopian novel ‘1984’, whose title is a permutation of 1948, the year of composition. An article in “The Nation” of 1984 stated it is “ Orwell’s picture of the way the world ends: actually it does not end at all, physically… Read More June 8, 1949: George Orwell’s 1984
June 3, 1140 : the French scholar Peter Abelard was found guilty of heresy. Abelard was a medieval scholastic philosopher and theologian, whose love for Héloïse d’Argenteuil have become legendary. She was a nun, writer, scholar, and abbess, and their nine-hundred-year-old love affair has proved immensely popular in modern European culture She was his student… Read More 3 June, 1140: Peter Abelard
On May, 30 2003 David Damrosch published “What Is World Literature?”, in which he suggested that world literature may gain in translation. Therefore, even though one important notion of literature is associated with untranslatability. little may be lost in translation: some translations are accomplished literary works in their own right.
May 26, 1828 (poem by Alexander Pushkin) Gift haphazard, unavailing, Life, why were thou given me? Why art thou to death unfailing Sentenced by dark destiny? Who in harsh despotic fashion Once from Nothing called me out, Filled my soul with burning passion Vexed and shook my mind with doubt? I can see no goal… Read More May 26, 1828
“He Wishes For the Cloths of Heaven” Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths Of night and light and the half light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have… Read More “He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven” – by W. B. Yeats
Saturday’s Child Some are teethed on a silver spoon, With the stars strung for a rattle; I cut my teeth as the black racoon– For implements of battle. Some are swaddled in silk and down, And heralded by a star; They swathed my limbs in a sackcloth gown On a night that was black as… Read More Harlem Renaissance: SATURDAY’S CHILD – by Countée Cullen –
Hatred I shall hate you Like a dart of singing steel Shot through still air At even-tide, Or solemnly As pines are sober When they stand etched Against the sky. Hating you shall be a game Played with cool hands And slim fingers. Your heart will yearn For the lonely splendor Of the pine tree… Read More Harlem Renaissance: HATRED – by Gwendolyn B. Bennett –
I, TOO by Langston Hughes I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes. Nobody’ll dare Say to me, “Eat in the kitchen,” Then. Besides, They’ll… Read More Dreams (6): I, TOO
