Eric Hanson's Blog, page 21
June 17, 2009
Watergate
On June 18th, 1972, Bob Woodward, assigned to the police beat at the Washington Post, writes a small story about a second rate burglary at the Watergate Hotel. He is 29.
Woodward appears once in A Book of Ages. The security guard, Frank Wills, appears four times.
Woodward appears once in A Book of Ages. The security guard, Frank Wills, appears four times.
June 15, 2009
Bloomsday, Joyce, Plath, Hughes
On June 16, 1904, in Dublin, James Joyce fell in love with Nora Barnacle, whom he'd known for about a week. He was 22. June 16 became “Bloomsday,” the day in which the plot of Ulysses takes place. Shortly after this meeting Joyce left Ireland for the Continent, and Nora went with him.
On June 16, 1956, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes were married at St. George the Martyr in London. She was 23. They had known each other since February, when she met him at a party in Cambridge. When they embraced she
On June 16, 1956, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes were married at St. George the Martyr in London. She was 23. They had known each other since February, when she met him at a party in Cambridge. When they embraced she
Fathers & Sons
In 1955 Ford Motor Company hired Marianne Moore to help name their newest car-model. The 67 year-old poet had some interesting suggestions. Imagine driving a car named "Utopian Turtletop" or "Andante Con Tropo." What about "The Anticipator"? The "Thunder Crester"? The "Silver Sword"? The "Regna Racer"? What exactly is a "Magigravue"? Or a "Turcotingo"? Would you expect a "Pastelogram" to get better gas mileage and good acceleration? I like "The Varsity Stroke" but it might be a bit preppy. S
June 14, 2009
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Today is the birthday of the most influential novelist America has ever produced. Never mind J. D. Salinger and John Updike. Hemingway persuaded Americans to write shorter sentences, but Twitter would have done that eventually. Melville's novel didn't result in a ban on whaling. No, the most influential novelist in American history was a mother of seven from Cincinnati.
Harriet Beecher Stowe was born on June 14th, 1811, in Litchfield, Connecticut, the daughter of an abolitionist preacher. In 185
Harriet Beecher Stowe was born on June 14th, 1811, in Litchfield, Connecticut, the daughter of an abolitionist preacher. In 185
June 12, 2009
Babe Ruth
On June 13, 1902, seven year-old George Herman Ruth was sent to St. Mary’s Industrial School For Boys, a Catholic school for orphans and delinquents. It turned out to be a lucky break. Ruth's parents owned a bar in working class Baltimore and didn't have the time or the energy to deal with the kid.
George wouldn't be known as Babe for a few years. He was a large and (by his own description) an ugly kid, and his habits were hardly infantile. He began smoking and chewing tobacco when he was seven,
George wouldn't be known as Babe for a few years. He was a large and (by his own description) an ugly kid, and his habits were hardly infantile. He began smoking and chewing tobacco when he was seven,
June 11, 2009
Nelson Mandela
On June 12, 1964, Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment for plotting to overthrow the white South African government. His statement to the court received international publicity. He was 45 and would spend the next 26 years in prison.
Nelson Mandela appears on pages 88, 122, 175, 250 and 257 in A Book of Ages.
Nelson Mandela appears on pages 88, 122, 175, 250 and 257 in A Book of Ages.
June 9, 2009
Women of A Certain Age
In the June 10, 1955 issue of Collier's Magazine, clothing designer Christian Dior said that “Women are most fascinating between the ages of thirty-five and forty, after they have won a few races and know how to pace themselves. Since few women ever pass forty, maximum fascination can continue indefinitely.”
Christian Dior appears twice in A Book of Ages. He introduced the New Look when he was 42.[image error]
Christian Dior appears twice in A Book of Ages. He introduced the New Look when he was 42.[image error]
Johnny Depp
Today's the birthday of Johnny Depp. Born in Owensboro, Kentucky in 1963, he appears three times in A Book of Ages, beginning at age 15. (Johnny Depp's family moved 30 times by the time he was 15.) Some of his more famous personas also appear: Hunter S. Thompson (7 times) and Keith Richards (4 times.) Celebrity has an interesting way of intersecting.[image error]
June 8, 2009
McCarthyism
This day in 1954 saw the beginning of the end of the witch-hunting era named after Senator Joe McCarthy. On June 9th, it was Joseph Welch, a mild-mannered Army lawyer, whose famous rebuke seemed to waken America from a bad dream. "You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"
Joe McCarthy, the failed chicken farmer and upstate Wisconsin judge, had been elected to the U.S. Senate in 1946, where he served in obscurity. Then in February 19
Joe McCarthy, the failed chicken farmer and upstate Wisconsin judge, had been elected to the U.S. Senate in 1946, where he served in obscurity. Then in February 19
June 7, 2009
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was born on this date in 1867 in a rural Wisconsin characterized by white clapboard houses, red barns and moral rectitude, certainties Wright would spend most of his life overturning. His interest in architecture began at the age of 9 when his mother gave him a set of blocks designed by kindergarten pioneer Friedrich Fröbel. He left high school and the University of Wisconsin without obtaining degrees and traveled to Chicago which was still engaged in rebuilding itself after t
