The Vulgar Eclectic

Tag: book jots

  • The Lower Depths by Maxim Gorky

    I just finished reading The Lower Depths (translated by David Magarshack), a play written by Maxim Gorky in 1902. It brutally depicts the lives of several poor Russians who are living in the cramped basement of a boarding house. The characters are superbly drawn. Through the dialogue, Gorky is able to ask profound questions regarding…

  • The Pathfinder by James Fenimore Cooper

    I just finished reading The Pathfinder (1840) by James Fenimore Cooper. Although it’s the fourth novel Cooper wrote in the Leatherstocking Tales, it is the third in the chronology of the series. The novel is set around the year 1758, in the midst of the French and Indian War. Pathfinder (known at various times throughout…

  • The Power of Darkness by Leo Tolstoy

    I finished reading The Power of Darkness (1886) by Leo Tolstoy. It’s a five act tragedy set in a peasant village in 19th century Russia. Several of the characters commit increasingly depraved acts, culminating in a particularly vile crime. As these actions and their outcomes are contrasted with another, sympathetic character, I was left with…

  • Indiana Jones and the Peril at Delphi by Rob MacGregor

    I just finished reading Indiana Jones and the Peril at Delphi (1991) by Rob MacGregor. It’s the first in a series of novels written after the third Indiana Jones movie. The book begins with Indy graduating from college and his first experiences in archaeology, which, of course, are full of danger and excitement! I was…

  • Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons) by Nennius

    I just finished reading Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons) by Nennius, translated in the 19th century by J. A. Giles. This early history of the British Isles is usually attributed to Nennius, a Welsh monk, and was possibly first compiled around 830 AD. There are a number of old manuscripts of this work that…

  • Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels, Book 1 by Serena Blasco

    I just finished reading Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels, Book 1 (2022) by Serena Blasco, translated by Tanya Gold. It’s based on novels written by Nancy Springer. It contains three stories: The Case of the Missing Marquess, The Case of the Left-Handed Lady, and The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets. The stories are meant to…

  • The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith

    I finished reading The Vicar of Wakefield (1766) by Oliver Goldsmith. This novel is told from the point of view of Dr. Primrose, as he attempts to resolutely persevere through a number of personal and familial hardships in 18th century England. The plot revolves around the vicar’s family and those they meet when they must…

  • Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Other Stories by Nikolai Leskov

    I finished reading Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Other Stories by Nikolai Leskov (translated by David McDuff), a collection of novellas and short stories originally published between 1863 and 1894. Of all the literature I’ve read from this time and place, these are some of the most unique and unusual I’ve come across. Stories in…

  • Athanasius, the Hero by Lynn Harold Hough

    I just finished reading Athanasius, the Hero (1906) by Lynn Harold Hough. It is a biography of Athanasius, a 4th century Alexandrian bishop. The book begins with an overview of the period of time between the fall of the Roman republic and the life of Athanasius. I found this part particularly compelling; Hough is able…

  • Su Tung-p’o: Selections From a Sung Dynasty Poet

    The following is an old book jot from December 2021: I just finished reading Su Tung-p’o: Selections From a Sung Dynasty Poet, translated and with an introduction and notes by Burton Watson (1965). This book is a selection of poems by Su Shi, also known by his literary name of Su Tung-p’o, and contains poems…