Dostoevsky

Dostoevsky’s art is literally prophetic. He is not prophetic in the sense of predicting the future, but in a  truly biblical sense, for he untiringly denounces the fall of the people of God back into…

Another Long Classic

In 2021 thirteen of us spent seven months to read and discuss the long novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov. I’m interested to see if anyone would be up for reading The Gospel of…

A Basic Seventeen

November 1999 “And so, first of all, let us remember him, gentlemen, all our lives.  And even though we may be involved with the most important affairs, achieve distinction or fall into some great misfortune…

Recent Reading

Sunday 11 April 2021 Dear Sarah, Thanks for your question about what I’ve been reading. Sometimes I make a plan, then other times I act entirely on instinct. So what follows are examples of each….

A Paradise for Perusers

I have given away four copies of James Mustich’s chef d’oeuvre, 1,000 Books to Read before You Die: A Life-Changing List, before I bought and kept one for myself. I became acquainted with Mr. Mustich…

Zosima-isms/2

Which of the two is more capable of upholding and serving a great idea—the isolated rich man or one who is liberated from the tyranny of things and habits? Let us preserve the image of…

Zosima-isms/1

This is the lot that befalls you, mothers, on earth. And do not be comforted, you should not be comforted, do not be comforted, but weep. And there is more joy in heaven over one…