Before Conrad Aiken was the U.S. Poet Laureate or the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, the Bollingen Prize, the National Book Award, the National Institute of Arts and Letters Gold Medal, and the National Medal for Literature, he was a young boy growing up on Oglethorpe Avenue in Savannah, Ga.
It was an April morning: fresh and clear / The Rivulet, delighting in its strength, / Ran with a young man’s speed; and yet the voice / Of waters which the winter had supplied / Was softened down into a vernal tone. ~ William Wordsworth
I have every intention of reading and reviewing each of these in the next couple of weeks, but I know that it’s likely a longer timeline. So consider this a preview of things to come, and maybe some of these titles will strike you even without my commentary. All images link to Goodreads page. Different…
Biographer, editor and man of letters Michael Sims agreed to let me pick his brain about Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes, a fascination we share. Sims was a distinguished speaker at the Baker Street Irregulars annual gathering in 2011. Sims’ newest book, Arthur and Sherlock, comes out January 24. Q: Did you read Sherlock Holmes…
A couple of years ago, I had the great luck to be able to visit Poe’s Baltimore home and his gravesite. The house museum is run by a group of fun, dedicated folks and the churchyard evokes everything that a northeastern historical city burial ground should. I’ve been to Sullivan’s Island and visited Fort Moultrie…