Author Archives: Lee

From the Reading Diary: Kenneth Patchen’s Selected Poems

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Lee

Kenneth Patchen is interested in, among other things, the way the branches move on the trees to create visions and to scratch the surface of the stars in the night sky. He’s also interested in the cruelty that men – … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Notes on William Burroughs to Allen Ginsberg May 5th, 1951

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Lee

In a letter to Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs seems to be saying that he’s incapable of envy. Envy arises from a particular kind of ignorance, of which Burroughs has cured himself: “Envy and resentment is only possible when you can … Continue reading →

Posted in Beat Generation, Literature | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

On Ursula K. Le Guin

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Lee

The poet’s task is to find the right words, or the true names of things. And in A Wizard of Earthsea, that’s the task of wizards too. You find the thing’s true name by capturing its essence: by seeing what … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Literature, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Feeling of Connection: Anthony Burgess and His Characters

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Lee

Anthony Burgess tells his story through his characters, in a way that makes him stand out among writers. Many writers of fiction tell their stories primarily through the narrator’s voice, and characters are presented to the reader through this medium. … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Literature | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Sad Note: Henry Miller’s Aller Retour New York

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Lee

Henry Miller believed that a real writer can find inspiration in anything, be it “a smokestack or a button”. I always enjoy Miller, whatever he’s writing about, because whatever the subject matter he’ll make it interesting. But some of his … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Henry Miller and Doing More Work

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Lee

If you want to create – to paint, to write, to make music – you need to do so in the face of the pressures and demands of modern life. It’s about maintaining an inner equilibrium, carving out a space … Continue reading →

Posted in books | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Identifying Things

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Lee

Identification, says Korzybski, is a blunt tool. Language is a box full of tools, all imperfect, none quite fit for purpose, their functioning performative and never exactly descriptive. Meaning: anything we can say about the world is never quite how … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Toynbee and the Enlightenment

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Lee

Arnold J Toynbee has some bad news in Volume VI of his A Study of History: Western civilisation is showing all the signs of being in its final decline. Civilisations decline when they fail to respond to challenges they face. … Continue reading →

Posted in books, History, Philosophy, Toynbee | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Review: The Moon and Sixpence

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Lee

I picked up The Moon and Sixpence, having heard it was “inspired by the life of Paul Gauguin,” expecting to read a novelised biography of the artist, with an appropriate level of artistic licence. What you get with this book, … Continue reading →

Posted in books | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Reading Toynbee

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Lee

Perhaps there’s nothing you have to do and nowhere you have to be. You’re on your own, so you’ve only yourself to worry about. But what is there to worry about when you’ve only yourself to worry about? A quiet … Continue reading →

Posted in books | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments