This took a lot of time and effort but at the end it was all worth it. I mean the language (at least in translation) wasn't difficult at all but there were just too many characters, and keeping track of their interrelationships and their place in the wider mythology felt like a lot of work.
June 19, 2025 at 3:48 PM
This took a lot of time and effort but at the end it was all worth it. I mean the language (at least in translation) wasn't difficult at all but there were just too many characters, and keeping track of their interrelationships and their place in the wider mythology felt like a lot of work.
And next year there are new editions of his works coming out in the Oxford World's Classics series. I hope they are nicely annotated, especially Doctor Faustus, which requires a lot of scholarly guidance
June 6, 2025 at 2:24 PM
And next year there are new editions of his works coming out in the Oxford World's Classics series. I hope they are nicely annotated, especially Doctor Faustus, which requires a lot of scholarly guidance
Robert Fagles doesn't say Lesbians, he says women of Lesbos
June 6, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Robert Fagles doesn't say Lesbians, he says women of Lesbos
this description of hip-joint in the Iliad will probably get past the approval of modern orthopaedic surgeons
(lot of really graphic descriptions of wounds)
(lot of really graphic descriptions of wounds)
June 5, 2025 at 12:15 PM
this description of hip-joint in the Iliad will probably get past the approval of modern orthopaedic surgeons
(lot of really graphic descriptions of wounds)
(lot of really graphic descriptions of wounds)
"the lies that Odysseus told all of us"
- Homer, A Very Short Introduction, Barbara Graziosi
- Homer, A Very Short Introduction, Barbara Graziosi
June 1, 2025 at 4:39 PM
"the lies that Odysseus told all of us"
- Homer, A Very Short Introduction, Barbara Graziosi
- Homer, A Very Short Introduction, Barbara Graziosi
My learning so far from reading the Hebrew Bible is that you don't mess with Yahweh and you don't mess with his prophets either. (this is prophet Elisha, from 2 Kings)
June 1, 2025 at 3:17 PM
My learning so far from reading the Hebrew Bible is that you don't mess with Yahweh and you don't mess with his prophets either. (this is prophet Elisha, from 2 Kings)
The list of its fans included R. K. Narayan www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v2...
May 31, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The list of its fans included R. K. Narayan www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v2...
"the Trojan Horse may be Homer’s way of depicting the earthquake sent by Poseidon to level the walls of Troy"
May 31, 2025 at 1:41 AM
"the Trojan Horse may be Homer’s way of depicting the earthquake sent by Poseidon to level the walls of Troy"
He is a minimalist, not a complete sceptic, when it comes to the questions of historicity of the Trojan war
May 31, 2025 at 1:37 AM
He is a minimalist, not a complete sceptic, when it comes to the questions of historicity of the Trojan war
Prep work for the next reading project.
May 30, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Prep work for the next reading project.
The scholar introducing the book of "Samuel" in Oxford Bible says that in detailing David's character, the text "protests too much," that is, it is too plainly apologetic and thus provokes one to read between the lines and go beyond the surface ideology.
Here's another example from "Kings"
Here's another example from "Kings"
May 28, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The scholar introducing the book of "Samuel" in Oxford Bible says that in detailing David's character, the text "protests too much," that is, it is too plainly apologetic and thus provokes one to read between the lines and go beyond the surface ideology.
Here's another example from "Kings"
Here's another example from "Kings"
Last week, I also read this book about the early Jewish history, covering the period when Israelite religion turned into what we now know as Judaism, or at least its precursor.
I still prefer the account in Martin Goodman's History of Judaism, even thought it is in a much more condensed form there
I still prefer the account in Martin Goodman's History of Judaism, even thought it is in a much more condensed form there
May 28, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Last week, I also read this book about the early Jewish history, covering the period when Israelite religion turned into what we now know as Judaism, or at least its precursor.
I still prefer the account in Martin Goodman's History of Judaism, even thought it is in a much more condensed form there
I still prefer the account in Martin Goodman's History of Judaism, even thought it is in a much more condensed form there
My Bible reading is getting along. I am in the middle of historical books ("Deuteronomistic history") right now. Have finished Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and Samuel and started Kings.
In the meanwhile I read this introduction to Hebrew Bible - an introductory college level textbook, very good to read.
In the meanwhile I read this introduction to Hebrew Bible - an introductory college level textbook, very good to read.
May 28, 2025 at 4:14 AM
My Bible reading is getting along. I am in the middle of historical books ("Deuteronomistic history") right now. Have finished Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and Samuel and started Kings.
In the meanwhile I read this introduction to Hebrew Bible - an introductory college level textbook, very good to read.
In the meanwhile I read this introduction to Hebrew Bible - an introductory college level textbook, very good to read.
Is this another example of English hibernophobia? (this is from the annotations in the novel)
May 24, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Is this another example of English hibernophobia? (this is from the annotations in the novel)
Occasionally in the novel Mrs Wood breaks the fourth wall and gets into a homiletic mode. Here, a sermon to the married women:
May 24, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Occasionally in the novel Mrs Wood breaks the fourth wall and gets into a homiletic mode. Here, a sermon to the married women:
Haven't been reading much fiction lately. Now getting back to the Victorian sensation novel. Will it be as good as "Lady Audley's Secret," let's see!
May 17, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Haven't been reading much fiction lately. Now getting back to the Victorian sensation novel. Will it be as good as "Lady Audley's Secret," let's see!
the priestly writer(s) of Leviticus must surely have loved the smell of burnt flesh. it's almost like a poetic refrain throughout.
May 3, 2025 at 3:55 PM
the priestly writer(s) of Leviticus must surely have loved the smell of burnt flesh. it's almost like a poetic refrain throughout.
Biblical Oath-taking! And it is not even your own thigh, it is the other person's.
(Genesis 24:2)
(Genesis 24:2)
May 1, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Biblical Oath-taking! And it is not even your own thigh, it is the other person's.
(Genesis 24:2)
(Genesis 24:2)
Starting on a big reading project. Excited!
May 1, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Starting on a big reading project. Excited!
first I thought it was a printing mistake, then I remembered "just deserts!" I am seeing this usage for the first time.
(from John Barton, A History of the Bible)
(from John Barton, A History of the Bible)
April 26, 2025 at 4:02 PM
first I thought it was a printing mistake, then I remembered "just deserts!" I am seeing this usage for the first time.
(from John Barton, A History of the Bible)
(from John Barton, A History of the Bible)
An amusing metaphor, specially in this context
April 25, 2025 at 3:08 AM
An amusing metaphor, specially in this context
One of my planned reading projects for this year is to read the Bible (Christian, ecumenical) cover to cover. Starting now on some prep-work
April 22, 2025 at 6:44 PM
One of my planned reading projects for this year is to read the Bible (Christian, ecumenical) cover to cover. Starting now on some prep-work
This was a disappointing read for me. I know, a lot of readers prefer their history books to read like novels, but I don't. I should have picked up a textbook instead.
April 22, 2025 at 6:32 PM
This was a disappointing read for me. I know, a lot of readers prefer their history books to read like novels, but I don't. I should have picked up a textbook instead.