To Vex the World. Jonathan Swift’s Frustrated Humor
Jonathan Swift insisted his prose be plain enough for servants to grasp, editing his work until it was crystal‑clear. This commitment to accessibility made *Gulliver’s Travels* a vehicle for sharp political satire, using absurdist humor to lampoon 18th‑century British politics and human folly. The essay highlights how Swift’s humor evolves from light‑hearted mockery of Lilliputian partisanship to a darker critique of rationality divorced from morality, culminating in a chilling vision of genocide. Modern audio adaptations revive Swift’s rhythmic delivery, extending his influence to new audiences.
What Should Be on a List of Almost Great Books?
A Twitter user proposes an “almost‑Great Books” syllabus that spotlights works that either lost out to dominant worldviews or represent secondary expressions of winning ideas. The list would also feature obscure titles by canonical authors and once‑popular intellectual books that...
Growling in a Corner: Samuel Johnson’s Lost Years
The piece delves into Samuel Johnson’s little‑known “lost years” from 1760 to 1763, a lull that followed the triumph of his Dictionary. During this interval Johnson’s prolific output stalled as he wrestled with depression, erratic habits, and chronic financial strain....
The Whitsun Weddings, Philip Larkin
In a recent piece for Poetry by Heart, IV, Henry Oliver revisits Philip Larkin’s “The Whitsun Weddings” through a memorized recitation. Oliver notes that the performance reveals how Larkin crafts a pastoral atmosphere not just with imagery but with precise...
The Stranger, The Drama, and the Criticism of Ben Lerner
The review contrasts two recent films, the black‑and‑white adaptation “The Stranger” of Camus’s novel and the genre‑bending romantic‑comedy‑thriller “The Drama.” “The Stranger” leans on classic noir techniques but ends with a familiar, philosophically vague soliloquy, while “The Drama” employs flash‑forward...
The New Dark Ages: James Marriott in Conversation with Henry Oliver
James Marriott, author of *The New Dark Ages*, will discuss his book with Substack writer Henry Oliver on July 8, 2026, at Dr Johnson House in London. The conversation will probe whether the erosion of reading habits signals a cultural dark age...
Wisdom Through the Awful Grace of God
A visitor walks through Arlington National Cemetery, noting its layered history from a former slave plantation to the resting place of presidents, generals, and cultural icons. The essay describes the meticulous Changing of the Guard ceremony, highlighting its precise choreography...
The Clock in the Forest
The review examines Volume IV of Solvej Balle’s series *On the Calculation of Volume*, noting its dense philosophical focus on time and morality. While the book deepens the relational theory of time and explores obligations toward altered selves, its pacing feels...
The Future of Reading, the Honest Broker, and Michel Houellebecq
The latest episode of The Pursuit of Liberalism podcast features Sunil Iyengar of the National Endowment for the Arts, dissecting the limited data behind America’s reading decline and questioning the roles of TV, streaming and social media. A second episode...
The Man Who Read Everything
Harold Bloom’s posthumous collection, *The Man Who Read Everything*, assembles letters exchanged with poets such as A.R. Ammons, John Ashbery, and others, offering a rare glimpse into his private thoughts on poetry, teaching, and academic fatigue. The volume showcases Bloom’s...
Old Things Are Passed Away; Behold, All Things Are Become New.
The author reflects on a recent Emergent Ventures unconference where discussions spanned art, mortality, and the future of higher education. He contends that despite pressures for practical outcomes, the study of the literary canon—especially Shakespeare—will endure, even if it becomes...
Hating Dostoevsky
Social media has revived interest in Fyodor Dostoevsky, with TikTok star Jack Edwards propelling the novella "White Nights" to bestseller status after a viral review. The Penguin Little Black Classics edition sparked millions of #Dostoevsky posts, turning classic quotes into...
The Wealth of Nations Is a Classic of English Literature
Adam Smith’s *The Wealth of Nations* is being re‑examined as a work of English literature, not merely an economic treatise. The Liberty Fund essay highlights Smith’s literary influences—Jonathan Swift, Joseph Addison, and Samuel Johnson—and his humanist style that blends moral...
Do More People Write Poetry than Read It?
The claim that more people write poetry than read it is disproved by recent data. The National Endowment for the Arts reports that 9‑12% of American adults—roughly 30‑40 million people—engage with poetry, while UK sales exceed one million poetry books annually....
C19th English Novels Overrated?
The author argues that 19th‑century British novelists are overrated, preferring the English Renaissance (1580‑1680) for its worldview and language. While acknowledging personal enjoyment of Austen and Dickens, the piece suggests their works lack the universal impact of earlier poets or...