Monthly Archives: September 2018

1987: “God’s Fool”

Posted on September 17, 2018 by JMN

[Dear Mother,] I’ve read about a third or so of Hamlin Hill’s “Mark Twain: God’s Fool.” It’s about the last ten years of his life, based on materials that were not available or publishable when family members were still living. … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged | 2 Comments

Lost in jazz ecstasy

Posted on September 16, 2018 by JMN

This flash-back is from The Guardian. I have a vague memory of when Elvis invaded the airways, and my grandmother commenting, “I can’t imagine anyone can find that music pretty.” Photographer Michael Peto and writer Anthony Samson visited the cinemas … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotations | Tagged | Leave a comment

Feast for the Eye

Posted on September 16, 2018 by JMN

“That bastard. He’s really good.” (Picasso to Françoise Gilot, about Delacroix) “The first merit of painting is to be a feast for the eye.” (Delacroix’s last journal entry, June 1863) (Quotes from Roberta Smith, “At the Met Museum, the Grand … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotations | Tagged | Leave a comment

Rei Kawakubo: “Angry with easy fashion”

Posted on September 16, 2018 by JMN

[Adrian Joffe, Kawakubo’s husband, acts as interpreter during The Guardian interview, conversing with her in Japanese and relaying her answers to the English journalist. She seems to understand English.] “She said I should explain to you the amount of work … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotations | Tagged | Leave a comment

What to Do With Your 2-Week Vacation!

Posted on September 16, 2018 by JMN

Make french fries! Below is a quick summary of the process. For details, go to the article: Gabrielle Hamilton, “Spoil Them a Little With Homemade French Fries,” NYTimes, 9-12-18) 01. Peel-cut 5-6 russet potatoes into .25-x-.25-inch fries. 02. Refrigerate overnight … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged | Leave a comment

Cooperate how?

Posted on September 15, 2018 by JMN

The House of Law is built on the sands of Adverbia. On Friday, Mr. [***] broke in a big way — agreeing to cooperate “fully, truthfully, completely, and forthrightly” regarding “any and all matters” the special counsel, [***], wants him … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotations | Tagged | Leave a comment

“Soria” Wrecked: Meter and Rhyme

Posted on September 13, 2018 by JMN

“Soria” by Antonio Machado, Spanish Poet, 1875-1939 From “Campos de Castilla,” Antonio Machado, Biblioteca Anaya, 1964. (English translations by James Mansfield Nichols) Translating into meter is a lost cause, but adding a rhyme scheme escalates it to a punishing lost cause. You’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Blanco River, by Molly O’Halloran

Posted on September 12, 2018 by JMN

This picture captured me. The act of hand-drawing and painting a map must tap into deep reserves of disciplined obsession. I live toward the bottom of the Guadalupe-Blanco Watershed. When it rains heavily up country it’s possible the mighty Wadi-Loopy … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Category 4 Adverb Storm

Posted on September 12, 2018 by JMN

This just in: Extreme preparedness for extreme wetness! “Hurricane Florence / [***] says government is ‘absolutely, totally prepared’ for storm… [***] says storm will be ‘tremendously big and tremendously wet’….“ (The Guardian, 9-12-18) [Copyright (c) 2018 James Mansfield Nichols. All rights … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged | Leave a comment

1987 By the way…

Posted on September 12, 2018 by JMN

[Dear Mother,] By the way: I quoted a piece about biography in my last letter, to the effect that there is always an autobiography lurking. There is a figure that I almost think I’ve dreamed up, but that I know … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged | Leave a comment