There is really nothing that people get used to so readily as miracles, once they have experienced them two or three times. Yes! In fact, such is human nature that people begin to feel betrayed when they don’t keep getting all those things that a chance and fleeting circumstance once bestowed on them. People are […]
Author: Dwight
From my first post on the book: Joseph Roth’s The Radetzky March traces the history of the Trotta family across three generations. The grandfather, Joseph, saved Emperor Franz Joseph’s life at the Battle of Solferino, an act that helps and haunts the family across the years. The novel parallels and intertwines the connection between sons […]
Most of these orders pertained to the evacuation of villages and town and the treatment of pro-Russian Ukrainians, clerics, and spies. Hasty court-martials in villages passed hasty sentences. Secret informers delivered unverifiable reports on peasants, Orthodox priests, teachers, photographers, officials. There was no time. The army had to retreat swiftly but also punish the traitors […]
I’ve been listening to Mark Twain’s Life on the Mississippi during my commute and thoroughly enjoying it. Presented without comment is a section I heard this morning on the Vicksburg National Cemetery: The grounds are nobly situated; being very high and commanding a wide prospect of land and river. They are tastefully laid out in […]
Continuing some short quotes until I have time for more… The heart of The Radetzky March focuses on the relationship between fathers and sons, expanding that connection when looking at similar associations like emperor/subject or soldier/orderly. Onufrij, a peasant from the eastern border, is Carl Joseph’s orderly in pre-World War I Austria-Hungary. Onufrij’s devotion lies […]
I didn’t mean to completely disappear but August and September will be demanding beyond usual limit-pushing levels. For now I’ll post a few quotes over the next couple of days from Joseph Roth’s remarkable work. From Part Three, translation by Joachim Neugroschel (pages 247-248): Frau von Taussig stood on the platform in North Station. Twenty […]
Thanks to rogueclassicism for the following links, both of which cover some of the history of Carthage and one to Richard Miles’ Carthage Must be Destroyed. Richard Miles’ was on ABC Radio National’s program By Design discussing Carthage – and where is it now? (link is dead; broadcast not currently available). A wide ranging discussion, […]
I read two translations of The Radetzky March, The Overlook Press edition with translation by Joachim Neugroschel, which I’ve been using in my posts, and Granta Publication’s edition with translation by Michael Hofmann. I wanted to provide a few short quotes from both versions to give a flavor of their differences and similarities. Here are […]
Some flowers for my wife, even if they are from nine years ago. Happy anniversary!
A few notes and some additional quotes (all from the translation by Joachim Neugroschel). I wanted to highlight a few things before moving on to Part Three. Roth tends to overemphasize the impending destruction from World War I, as in the case of describing a visit of Russian and Austrian officers. Even with this overemphasis, […]