From the late 19th to the early 20th century, the December issue of almost any general-interest magazine regularly featured a holiday horror or two. Michael Dirda 19th20thcentury Change image and share on social
Any man's death diminishes us, but when an artist passes away, we lose not just an island but an entire archipelago. Michael Dirda archipelagoartistdeath Change image and share on social
Mentoring is the last refuge of the older artist. With luck, disciples will keep one's books in print, one's reputation alive. Michael Dirda aliveartistbook Change image and share on social
A reviewer's lot is not always an easy one. I can remember flogging myself to finish Harold Brodkey's 'The Runaway Soul' despite the novel's consummate, unmitigated tedium. Michael Dirda brodkeyconsummateeasy Change image and share on social
In 1911, Edgar Rice Burroughs, having failed at everything else, decided to write a novel. He was then in his mid-thirties, married with two children, barely supporting his family as the agent for a pencil-sharpener business. Michael Dirda agentbarelyburroughs share on social
With concerted effort, I can follow written instructions, but don't ask me to simply grasp how to operate a smartphone. Michael Dirda concertedeffortfollow Change image and share on social
I long ago ran out of bookshelf space and so, like a museum with its art, simply rotate my books from the boxes to the shelves and back again. Michael Dirda agoartback Change image and share on social
None of us, of course, will ever read all the books we'd like, but we can still make a stab at it. Michael Dirda bookmakeread Change image and share on social
For those of us with an inward turn of mind, which is another name for melancholy introspection, the beginning of a new year inevitably leads to thoughts about both the future and the past. Michael Dirda beginfutureinevitably Change image and share on social
Fiction is a house with many stately mansions, but also one in which it is wise, at least sometimes, to swing from the chandeliers. Michael Dirda chandelierfictionhouse Change image and share on social
