As the train crammed with soldiers crept its way past Amiens toward the front, Private Stephen Graham surveyed the scene from the corner of the car he was riding in and found himself thinking of Shakespeare, or, more precisely, “a-thinking of many such occasions in life when I have parted […]
Convivium
GUEST BLOG—The Truth of Myth by Stuart Patterson
We’ve just passed into autumn. Depending on where you are, you’ll be seeing familiar changes sooner or later—shorter days, chillier nights, life going indoors, nature just shutting down all over—and we’ll think about how Persephone has left us again for the underworld. That’s likely not how you think of the […]
ON THE ROAD WITH ANN—Reading the Road on the Camino
Our Camino trips create a rather different balance between reading and walking, with the latter taking up most of the day and leaving time for shorter discussions of briefer works in the early evening. But Dante, Wordsworth, Thoreau, Emerson and others have made the strong link between words and walking. […]
TODAY IN LITERATURE—Who Is a Twoo Pilgwim?
Ann will be off on the Camino in a couple of weeks. She is busy putting in long miles, checking her feet, gathering her gear, and rechecking her feet. Along with taking long daily walks through some of the most beautiful countryside imaginable, the group will gather over wine […]
TRAVEL PURSUITS—Winning pix from Colombia, winter 2015
We are pleased to announce the winner of our trip, Colombia: A paradise where reality and magic blur. Our judge this time was Alex Fiscalini, painter, photographer, graphic artist, and art director. Alex was drawn right away to this photo by Christine Croucher of Forest, Ontario. Christine has been toting […]
ON THE ROAD WITH ANN – Mystery & Manners in Savannah
I was mulling over my impressions from our fifth trip to Savannah and was struck that this Travel Pursuit differs from others in a strange way. Most of the time I find the literature and the place complement and enrich one another. Even if we are in Florence discussing Dante, who […]
GUEST BLOG—Truth in Storytelling with Don Whitfield
Last week on my way to the office—after an early morning foray into the part of Homer’s Odyssey where Odysseus begins to tell the story of his adventures to the hosts who have rescued him—my attention was caught by two fellow bus passengers recounting to each other how they had […]
GUEST BLOG—Taking on the Big Questions With Two Titans of Russian Literaure
By Julia Zarankin I am very excited about returning to Classical Pursuits and leading a discussion seminar on Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. Many people say that the world can be divided between Tolstoy and Dostoevsky lovers, and this summer you’ll be able to test which camp works best for you! I […]
GUEST BLOG—Welcome Short Story Readers
By Mary Bird Pioneers have always captured our imagination. My grandparents left a comfortable home and community in southern Ontario to try their luck at 82 Mile House on the gold trail to Alaska. Though it was lucrative, the pioneers gave up the house. My grandmother felt too isolated in […]
GUEST BLOG—Prepare to Be Delighted and Inspired
By Susan Lahey Explore the visual beauty of Islamic art in the newly opened Aga Khan Museum. We are fortunate this summer to be able to visit the highly anticipated museum dedicated to Islamic art, the first of its kind in North America. Join us for the afternoon to enjoy […]