Hello old friends and new —
And greetings as October turns to November. We have our first bit of chill in the air here in Texas, and not a day too soon. I have sweaters and jackets I want to wear.
Also, I love the paired feasts of All Saints and All Souls — especially the latter, which I wrote about in my 2008 book Original Sin: A Cultural History. You may read a brief excerpt here.
I have two big projects in the works: I am doing the final edits on my critical edition of Auden's book The Shield of Achilles, which will be published next May. And I am also working with Chris Carroll, the new editor-in-chief at Harper's, on a long essay called "The Mythical Method." I will leave that title mysterious for now.
But I have also been blogging away rather consistently at my big blog — coming this week: a series of posts on Thomas Mann's tetralogy Joseph and His Brothers — and have been posting plenty of images and links at my micro.blog page. I am especially pleased that the latter has become an acceptable — some have told me a superior — substitute for my old newsletter. It's so pleasant for me to have a smoother and simpler workflow; and I think it's good for my readers too, since it's easier for me to share my thoughts.
If you agree, then I'd be delighted to have your financial support, if that's possible for you. But if not, no worries: all of my writing on the web, big blog and micro alike, will continue to be free for all to read.
Autumn blessings to you all!