The Vulgar Eclectic

Vulgar: of the usual, typical, or ordinary kind
Eclectic: composed of elements drawn from various sources

definitions courtesy of Merriam-Webster

recent blog posts

• New Atlantis by Francis Bacon

  I finished reading New Atlantis written by Francis Bacon and published after his death in 1626. It is regarded as an early example of a utopian novel. In it, a ship of sailors, lost at sea, stumbles upon an island nation. The narrator, one of the sailors, introduces the reader to the land of Bensalem, as he himself learns about the history, customs, sciences, religion, government, and other aspects of the mysterious society.

  Bensalem (essentially Hebrew for “son of peace”) embodies what seem to be essential elements of a good and enlightened society in Bacon’s vision. There is a strong emphasis on exploring and understanding the natural world; in other words, what modern readers would call the scientific method.

  The book is an interesting chapter in the evolution of science (as well as political theory and government), and helps the reader understand the cultural shift Bacon was a part of producing in the early 17th century.

  “I give thee leave to publish it for the good of other nations; for we here are in God’s bosom, a land unknown.”

  

• The Weapon Shops of Isher by A.E. van Vogt

  I just finished reading The Weapon Shops of Isher (1951) by A.E. van Vogt. This science fiction novel combines three previously published short stories, two from the early 1940s and one from 1949.

  It is a novel of ideas, as well as action. It courses along quickly, setting forth a world under the influence of two main powers—the imperial structure of the Empress and the opposing Weapon Shops. These entities create a sort of balance into which the various characters of the story are thrust.

  Van Vogt’s prose hurls along and sometimes the reader feels as if they are catching up, trying to fit the pieces together. At other moments, the narrative is punctuated with beautiful, descriptive writing. These elements work together to create a story with a rhythm that pulls the reader along.

  I thought this was an excellent foray into the golden age of science-fiction. I found the ideas interesting, the philosophy worth thinking about, and the plot exciting.

  His idea was nothing less than that whatever government was in power should not be overthrown. But that an organization should be set up which would have one principal purpose—to ensure that no government ever again obtained complete power over its people.

  

• The Life of a Simple Man by Émile Guillaumin

  Here is a book jot from February, 2021:

  I just finished reading The Life of a Simple Man, written by Émile Guillaumin and published in 1904 (translated by Margaret Holden; revised translation by Margaret Crosland). It is a fictional memoir about Tiennon, a peasant born in 1823 in rural France. He tells the story of his life in a straightforward manner that often exhibits a certain lyricism. Tiennon, although fairly isolated in the countryside, lives through many changes in his society.

  I enjoy reading about this period of time; one of my favorite books is The Debacle by Emile Zola, which takes place during the Franco-Prussian war. This event also occurs during the course of this book, and it is interesting to get more context from a peasant’s point of view. It is a convincing story that chronicles many episodes of Tiennon’s life, the sad and the happy intertwining in his thoughtful reflections.

  “It seems to me that the true duty of each person lies in this very simple line of conduct: to work honestly, to cause sorrow to none, to help when we have a chance, and to come to the aid of the poor and suffering. If we conform to that as nearly as possible, I believe we need fear nothing either here or elsewhere.“

  

• The Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier by Jakob Walter

  I finished reading The Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier by Jakob Walter (edited and with an introduction by Marc Raeff). This was an amazing read. The author was a German stonemason who was conscripted into Napoleon’s Grande Armée and served in multiple campaigns during the Napoleonic Wars, including the ill-fated 1812 Russian campaign.

  At some point after his military service, Walter hand-wrote his memoir, stitched the pages together, and eventually passed it on to one of his sons in 1856 (the edition I read was published in 1991). He wrote with great facility, producing a work that is descriptive, moving, and often terrifying. Although some works written by educated officers exist, Walter’s book seems to be the only example of a memoir detailing the disastrous retreat from Moscow penned by a common soldier.

  In the face of slaughter, starvation, and extreme cold, the will to survive felt and acted out by ordinary people is profoundly illustrated. This was a most memorable read and several of the haunting scenes will stay long in my memory.

  “From Smolensk to Moshaisk the war displayed its horrible work of destruction: all the roads, fields, and woods lay as though sown with people, horses, wagons, burned villages and cities; everything looked like the complete ruin of all that lived.”

  

• Took a Walk in the Dirty Rain

  

  

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