Blog Schedule

I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Monday, April 23, 2012

T is for Twain and U, V, W, X, Y, Z

Okay folks, I'm going to be gone for awhile.Wanna guess where I'll be? Hint, hint the initials are V. I.

I did plan to finish the A to Z Challenge, but as I won't be around to return comments and such, I'll give you my final six letters today.


I want to thank all my NEW Random Followers and as for you old ones... you're the best!

Thank's to Arlee Bird, the inspiration behind the A to Z Challenge, for another wonderful year.

May there be many more.




And here they are, my final letters.

T is for Mark Twain. Writer extraordinaire.

If you haven't read INNOCENTS ABROAD it's a humorous look at his travels in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Holy Land.

And, if you want to know what Twain really thought about the "damned human race,"  his last novel, which he spent approximately  20 years writing, is called THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER.











U is for the Uncle Remus stories as compiled by Joel Chandler Harris. We owe him thanks.
Joel Chandler Harris ("Uncle Remus")





The Uncle Remus stories are variations on the Anansi stories that came out of Africa with the slaves. Instead of Bru Nansi the spider as the trickster, we have Brer Rabbit.




















V is Voltaire, a prolific writer who supported social reform and gave us the classic Candide.
Voltaire























W is for Oscar Wilde. It is difficult for me to express how much I love and adore Wilde. His wit, his insight, his fairy tales and plays, his one novel, the beauty of his writing, the tragedy of his life...
Oscar Wilde portrait by Napoleon Sarony - albumen

X is for Xerxes I King of Persia. Though technically a historical figure, I've ALWAYS loved this name. The battle at Thermopylae is one of the greatest in history, with  King Leonidas and and handful of Spartans holding back Xerxes' vast army.  I read about it when I was quite young and it made a huge impression on me.  Even though the Spartans lost, it gave the Greeks time to reorganize and, over the course of about a year, they eventually defeated the Persians in a series of three more battles. Bigger doesn't always mean better.

Xerxes I


Y is William Butler Yeats whose poetry I adore.

William Butler Yeats 1



He Wishes for Cloths of Heaven

Had I the heavens' embroidered clothes,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dream under your feet;
Tread softy because you tread on my dreams.










And Jane Yolen, who during a three day work shop taught me a WHOLE bunch.
















Z is Zorro, the original masked man, the mysterious hero who saves the day from evil doers. We just can't have too many heroes.
File:Capistrano2.jpg

Bye-bye for now. See you sometime in June.

20 comments:

  1. A splendid selection to finish your A-Z. Glad you included Yeats.

    I've enjoyed all your posts.

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  2. I adore Jane Yolen's books. Love her.

    My 7th grader just read his first Twain book a month ago (Tom Sawyer of course). And my hubby bought his autobiography. It's huge!

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  3. Mark Twain was such a gangster- I love all his quotes

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  4. Sweet wrap up, Bish. Enjoy your time off. See you in a month or so. I'm ready to bail and take some time away, too.

    Have really loved all of the literati you shared during this A to Z!

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  5. Wow, busy post. Okay, LOVE Mark Twain (one of the greatest American authors). Wilde may be one of the smartest and cheekiest writers of all time (particularly in Earnest). Yeats is beautiful, and Zorro is awesome. He's a totally superhero before superheroes were a thing.

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  6. Great selections! I like the picture of you and Jane.

    Happy reading, writing, and hanging out at the beach with your old family and friends, Bish.

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  7. It's great that you're sharing all this with us before your trip. I hope you have a wonderful time.

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  8. We'll miss you but have a great time!

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  9. Have a wonderful break!!
    You did well with the X!! I'm still struggling on that one!

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  10. Great post to wrap up the A to Z Challenge.

    Enjoy your break away from blogging.

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  11. You've left us with an amazing post, Bish! Thank you. Enjoy your time away--I'm envious. : )

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  12. Way to finish out with a bang!! It was a pleasure to meet you during the Challenge and I'll be back when you return! :)

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  13. I love Zorro! and i love how you managed to finish up all your A-Z posts before your trip:) have a good one!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  14. I love me some Mark Twain. I read the Innocents Abroad when I was in high school. I learned the French word recherche and never forgot it. Highly entertaining read.

    Didn't realise that the the Brer Rabbit stories were a take on Anansi.

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  15. Bish, I like the way you wrapped it up, A smooth finish to a fantastic theme.See you later.

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  16. I'm stopping by late into the challenge. Enjoy your break.

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  17. Hi Bish .. have a fabulous holiday - wish I was with you!!

    Love the authors you've highlighted here .. great take ..... I really need to read more of Mark Twain - so should probably give his books a try ..

    See you sometime in June!? Enjoy!!

    Cheers Hilary

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  18. I love how you wrapped up the alphabet right quick!

    Great picture of you and JY.

    And Voltaire -- he's so good looking he's almost pretty!

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  19. I just noticed these posts. I am so glad I stopped by. You and me, girlfriend. We're SOOO much alike. I wanna be with you right now. That postcard is soo awesome, Bish! I'll treasure it forever. I know you don't have internet, but I'm gonna email you anywho. Smooches!

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Your Random Thoughts are most welcome!