Christmas Tales - 2019

The Magi honored the Christ child with three gifts.

and in honor of the magi, I read three Christmas tales each December. My Christmas reads are also part of A Literary Christmas – sponsored by In the Bookcase.

At Christmas Time by Anton Chekhov is an extremely short short story – six pages. It is divided neatly into two parts – two separate settings. In the first, an illiterate peasant woman hires someone to write a letter to her only child, a daughter who married and moved away four years earlier. The woman is heartbroken that she hasn’t heard from her daughter. The second setting is the daughter overjoyed to receive her mother’s letter, but then plunged into despair at her plight – married, three small children, in a small apartment, very nearly trapped by her husband, a heartless brute who carelessly forgets to post the letters his wife writes to her parents. 

It’s a pretty depressing tale, but quite poignant. Mother and daughter each feel forsaken by the other, but the foibles of human communication hide the truth – that they are loved, remembered, and missed, which would surely be of some comfort in the midst of their dismal lives. 

And although I liked At Christmas Time, it left me longing for something a bit cheerier.

Fortunately, next up was Dickens’ The Trial of Life, the fourth of Dickens’ five Christmas tales: A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life, The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain. It is the least popular, least known, and barely qualifies as a Christmas Tale – there is only one scene at Christmas that could have just as affectively been at any time of the year. It is the only one of Dickens’ Christmas tales with no element of supernatural.

It is about Doctor Jeddler who was a great philosopher, 

...and the heart and mystery of his philosophy was. To look upon the world as a gigantic practical joke;

But the good Doctor’s philosophy is challenged by the fates and fortunes of his two daughters – beautiful and virtuous as you would expect from Dickens heroines. 

And after all, Doctor Jeddler is compelled to change his philosophy…

“It is a world full of hearts,” said the Doctor, hugging his youngest daughter, and bending across her to hug Grace – for he couldn’t separate the sisters; “and a serious world, with all its folly – even with mine, which was enough to have swamped the whole globe; and it is a world on which the sun never rises, but it looks upon a thousand bloodless battles that are some setoff against the miseries and wickedness of Battle-Fields; and it is a world we need be careful how we libel, Heaven forgive us, for it is a world of sacred mysteries, and its Creator only knows what lies beneath the surface of His lightest image!”

I found it to be a marvelous little tale about love and sacrifice, and in true Dickensian fashion, sublimely happy in the end, but yet…

There was an unexpected development. I’ve read quite a bit of Dickens, and thought I knew where he was going, but in the end, he “Wowed” me. Everything was NOT as it seemed. It’s a bit like David Copperfield meets A Tale of Two Cities, much shorter of course, which is high praise since those are two of my favorites by Dickens.

And finally, the best known of the three, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E. T. Hoffman.

You probably know something of the story, of a marvelous nutcracker who comes to life to battle the evil mouse king. It is a fairy tale in the truest sense – there is a mysterious portal between our world and another, that opens at infrequent times and to select few, usually it seems, the innocent and unspoiled.

In this tale, young Marie is the privileged traveler, whom no one believes, except perhaps with a wink and a whisper her eccentric Godfather Drosselmeyer, the clockmaker, toymaker, and almost it seems the director of this drama.

It’s an excellent tale. If you’ve only experienced the ballet based upon this fairy tale, I’d recommend reading the story. There is much more going on than the ballet can reveal.

Merry Christmas

          ~ The Wanderer

May you be blessed with

the spirit of the season, which is Peace,

the gladness of the season, which is Hope, 

and the heart of the season, which is Love

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Classics Club Spin #22

Classics Club Spin #22

It is time for the 22^nd edition of the Classics Club Spin – List 20 books from my CC TBR, by December 22; the mods then pick a random number, and I have until January 31, 2020 to read the corresponding book.

But I’ve only got 13 books left on my Classics Club list so I will list some of them twice. I used a random number generator to rank them, and determine which appear twice. My list:

1. Fahrenheit 451

2. Riders of the Purple Sage

3. If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler

4. Nicholas Nickleby

5. Fahrenheit 451

6. The Tale of Genji

7. Riders of the Purple Sage

8. The Tale of Genji

9. Cry the Beloved Country

10. At Swim Two-Birds

11. Jude the Obscure

12. Cry the Beloved Country

13. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

14. At Swim Two-Birds

15. Where the Red Fern Grows

16. The Sea, the Sea

17. Nicholas Nickleby

18. The Castle of Otranto

19. The Sea, the Sea

20. Greenmantle

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Benjamin Franklin by Edmund S. Morgan

Benjamin Franklin by Edmund S. Morgan

Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly ~ personal maxim of Benjamin Franklin

Much has been written of Franklin to let us know him, but there seems to be much yet that is unknowable. 

I would rather have it said, he lived usefully, than He died rich. ~ Benjamin Franklin to his mother of his desired legacy

He certainly lived usefully. (though he also earned a small fortune is his lifetime by various endeavors.)

Benjamin Franklin was a writer, printer, scientist, inventor, politician, statesman, diplomat, philosopher, humorist, activist, and one of the most intriguing of America’s founding fathers.

There are dozens of biographies on Franklin, including his own unfinished autobiography. There is a vast record, public and private, written about him, perhaps more than any other founding father, which would take a lifetime to study. Morgan has done the study for the reader, though his biography is brief, it offers a mere sketch of this fascinating public figure. 

But even this brief sketch reveals much. Franklin…

     …never made a memorable speech

     … had a personal aversion to controversy

     …had a knack for meeting kings and beggars…

     …valued Public service above scientific discovery

     Even though he

     …possessed an extraordinary intellectual curiosity

     …was more interested in right than in rights

     …directed his barbs against policy rather than persons

     …wanted people to like him because he liked them.

     …deeply valued self-control

     Usefulness and right were almost synonymous for him

The most surprising thing I learned was how diligently Franklin worked to preserve the union between the American colonies and England. 

What he most wanted was the Anglo-American empire 

He saw the coming greatness of America and dreamt of a great and powerful union that would benefit America, England, and the world. His belief that the colonists should be treated as equal British subjects was constantly frustrated by short-sighted Parliamentarians who sought to subjugate Americans – not to England, but to Parliament.

He told the British more than once that they could gain more from Americans by not taxing them and would lose heavily by fighting them.

Of course, he made enemies in Parliament, but even there were great minds who respected Franklin – one of them being William Pitt, Earl of Chatham. When one blustery member of Parliament referred to Franklin (who was present), as 

one of the bitterest and most mischievous enemies this country had ever known

Pitt defended Franklin for the official record…

…he made no scruple to declare, that if he were the first Minister of this Country, and had the care of settling this momentous business, he should not be ashamed of calling to his assistance a person so perfectly acquainted with the whole of American affairs, as the Gentleman alluded to and injuriously reflected on, one, he was pleased to say, whom all Europe held in high estimation for his knowledge and wisdom, and ranked with our Boyles and Newtons; who was an honour not to the English nation only but to Human Nature.

Franklin was not an early advocate for independence. He worked to strengthen the union, then to preserve the union, then to reconcile the union – but once the break was made – his course was irreversible. He became the First American – the first to work for a united American nation, not a loose confederation of independent states.

I was surprised to learn John Adams and Benjamin Franklin did not exactly get along. Franklin felt that Adams confounded his efforts with the French, and Adams felt Franklin was entirely too much a Francophile. Franklin wrote of John Adams…

I am persuaded, however, that he means well for his Country, is always an honest Man, often a Wise One, but sometimes and in some things, absolutely out of his Senses.

But for the most part…

Wherever Franklin went people loved him.

A small sampling of what noteworthy persons had to say of Franklin:

     …the greatest Statesman of the present, or perhaps any century. ~ Erasmus Darwin

     …the Solon, the Socrates, and the Seneca of that day. ~ Francois Steinsky

  

     …the first man of the universe ~ general French opinion

I’ll wrap it up with this profound thought, by this complex man…

Sin is not hurtful because it is forbidden but it is forbidden because it’s hurtful ~ Benjamin Franklin

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A Literary Christmas 2019

A Literary Christmas 2019

brought to you by In the Bookcase

The Rules are simple – pick your Christmas reads for 2019, write a blog post about them, and link back to In the Bookcase.

I honor of the Magi, who brought the Christ child three gifts, I read three Christmas tales each December. This year I will be reading:

The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens 

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E. T. A. Hoffmann

At Christmas Time by Anton Chekhov

Literary Christmas selections from 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018

Have a Blessed Christmas

The Wanderer

The Grace Awakening by Charles R. Swindoll

The Grace Awakening: Believing in Grace Is One Thing, Living it Is Another by Charles R. Swindoll

It is for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 

Galatians 5 is sometimes called the Magna Carta of Christian Liberty. The Grace Awakening is a Biblical study on the subject.

I’d like to make this book required reading for all Christendom, but such an autocratic mandate is contrary to its premise, so instead I will just HIGHLY recommend it. It isn’t just for Christians. Non-Christians, especially those who find Christianity to be oppressive, overbearing, or unkind, may find it valuable as well.

Early in the book, Charles Swindoll, makes two broad applications for the principle of Grace: Saving Grace and Living Grace.

Saving Grace is the message that anyone, no matter how unworthy (and we are all unworthy), may enjoy God’s favor. We needn’t earn it, we needn’t work for it; in fact we can’t. The work has been done by Christ, and God is pleased to give grace (his favor) freely to anyone who wishes to receive it. And while I cannot overstate the glory of that message – it is something I settled long ago. I rest securely and irrevocably in God’s favor.

Hence, I found the second point – living by Grace – applicable to my own life now. I found it incredibly relevant and important for Christianity as a whole. Many Christians, once saved by Grace, slip into a life of graceless living. We reduce Christianity to a list of rules and standards of conduct, and often become judgmental of anyone, including other believers, who don’t live as we think they ought. This is not Living Grace.

Much of what we squabble over, much of what we judge, much of what divides us…is nowhere prohibited scripture. The Holy Spirit revealed to me some years ago, that Christianity is more about living by principle rather than a code of conduct. Christ was explicit; the two all-encompassing principles are: Love God, and love my neighbor.

The problem comes when I find a way to apply those principles that works well for me, hopefully even that the Holy Spirit has led me to follow, and then I insist that others follow the same path. That way of thinking isn’t scriptural, it isn’t spiritual, and it isn’t Living Grace.

I cannot do justice to The Grace Awakening in a few paragraphs. If I tried to list the major points, they would lose impact without the Biblical context and pragmatic application contained in the book. But I will highlight one example that was particularly powerful for me. 

At Corinth there was an issue dividing the church that had to do with the propriety of consuming meat that was left over from pagan sacrifice. (We don’t worry much about meat offered in pagan worship today, so feel free to consider contemporary issues such as: body art or piercing, dancing, going to movies, living opulently, dress and hairstyle, social drinking, rock music, Bible versions, contemporary Christian music, etc, etc, etc.) In the first century, this meat thing was the issue. You could buy the leftover meat at a discount. Some in Corinth believed it sinful to eat such meat, some had no problem with it, but there is no specific Bible prohibition. For some it violated their idea of Loving God, and in that case, they should absolutely NOT eat it, but they needn’t make a mission of ensuring no one did. Paul makes it clear that if others did not have a problem with it, they should not be prohibited…or judged. But what really stunned me, was when Paul, writing with Apostolic authority, said….

⁷However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. ⁸But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do eat, nor the better if we do not eat. ⁹But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. ~ 1 Corinthians: 7-9

Did you catch that? The WEAKER brother is the more CONSERVATIVE of the two. 

Just…let…that…sink…in…

Grace is liberating, not restricting. I think that is the major premise of this book.

Four Biblical Guidelines that Magnify Grace

1. Accepting others is basic to letting them be

2. Refusing to dictate to others allows the Lord freedom to direct their lives

3. Freeing others means we never assume a position we’re not qualified to fill

4. Loving others requires us to express our liberty wisely

About the author: Charles (Chuck) Swindoll is a Christian author and radio preacher (Insight for Living radio broadcast). I’ve listened to him intermittently over the years, and always appreciate his gentle and joyful commitment to proclaiming the Word of God. (he also admits of being fond of Shakespeare …gotta love that.)

A few excerpts: These excerpts lose their full force when taken out of context. Read the book!

…where grace exists, so must various areas of gray

Grace killers are notorious for a judgmental attitude. It is perhaps the single most un-Christlike characteristic in evangelical circles today.

God is pleased with diversity.

The church is not a religious industry designed to turn out mass-produced reproductions on an assembly line.

Variety honors God.

Would you please give up your list of dos and don’ts for everybody else? Just keep it for yourself.

…two strong and very human tendencies: We compare ourselves with others (which leads us to criticize or compete with them), and we attempt to control others (which results in our manipulating or intimidating them).

Most folks, it seems, are better acquainted with their guilt and shame than with their God.

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Coriolanus by William Shakespeare

Coriolanus by William Shakespeare 

His nature is too noble for the world. He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, or Jove for ‘s power to thunder. ~ Menenius regarding Coriolanus

Coriolanus is a tragedy by Shakespeare, written very early 17^thCentury. It is about a Roman General, Gaius Marcius Coriolanus, of the 5^thCentury, B.C. 

Well…WOW! I loved this play, though it is a tragedy and doesn’t leave one feeling warm and fuzzy, but WOW!

I didn’t like it at first. I didn’t like the title character, but then it gets powerful quickly in the second act, and I admired the integrity of Coriolanus, and lamented his lack of political savviness. 

He is a general of great renown, bearing many scars on his body for Rome, though he is considered proud and aloof. As one officer describes him…

That’s a brave fellow; but he’s vengeance proud, and loves not the common people.

Coriolanus does not aspire to politics, he would rather defend Rome and win her more glory, but like many military heroes, he was urged into politics by his friends. One of them, Menenius, recognizes that Coriolanus may lack tact and diplomacy needed for politics.

His nature is too noble for the world. He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, or Jove for ‘s power to thunder.

Coriolanus himself detests the idea that he is judged by lesser men. He describes it as…

…the crows to peck the eagles.

Two rather contemptuous tribunes stir up discontent among the people towards Coriolanus – merely for his aloofness – though they spin it as more treacherous conduct. When a mob is ready to execute him by carrying him outside the city and casting him on the rock Tarpeian, Coriolanus answers…

No, I’ll die here. [draws his sword] There’s some among you have beheld me fighting: Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me.

Coriolanus is not executed, but he is banished. He in turn banishes Rome, and makes his way to his previous enemy, the Volscians, and agrees to lead them against Rome.

The joy and beauty of Shakespeare is in the dialogue. The most thrilling speeches are usually made by main characters: Hamlet’s soliloquy, Antony’s eulogy of Caesar, or Henry V’s St Crispin’s day speech, but in this play, my favorite lines were by an unnamed guard, addressed to Menenius who has come to the Volscian camp to sue for mercy.

Guard: You are a Roman, are you?

Menenius: I am as thy general is.

Guard: Then you should hate Rome, as he does. Can you, when you have pushed out your gates the very defender of them, and, in a violent popular ignorance, given your enemy your shield, think to front his revenges with the easy groans of old women, the virginal palms of your daughters, or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant as you seem to be? Can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to flame in, with such weak breath as this? No, you are deceived; therefore, back to Rome, and prepare for your execution: you are condemned; our general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon.

Or this shorter bit, when Menenius rebukes the cowering tribunes who have brought ruin upon Rome.

Why, so, – you have made good work! A pair of tribunes that have rack’d for Rome, to make coals cheap, – a noble memory!

Spoiler alert: Rome is not destroyed. I’ll spare you how it is spared, and the tragedy. 

This is one of Shakespeare’s lesser known, and less often enacted plays. But in the reading, at least, it is one of my favorites. 

I read this for the 2019 Year of Shakespeare Challenge.

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Recap of Novels 131-140

Average rating of novels 131-140 – 3.8 stars (out of 5)

131.  ★★★½                 Picnic at Hanging Rock

132.  ★★★★½             The Oak Openings

133.  ★★★½                   The Day of the Triffids

134.  ★★★½                 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

135.  ★★★½                 Through the Looking Glass

136.  ★★★★                 Coraline
137.  ★★★★                 A Christmas Carol
138.  ★★★★½             Dracula

139.  ★★★½                 The Universal Baseball Association

140.  ★★★★                 Lost Horizon

Favorite: Dracula

Honorable Mention: The Oak Openings

Least Favorite: The Day of the Triffids

Best Alternate Title: The Bee Hunter – which I think is a better, though less commonly used, title for The Oak Openings

Best Hero: Parson Amen from The Oak Openings

Best Heroine: Mina Harker from Dracula

Most Villainous: Count Dracula

Dishonorable Mention: Other Mother from Coraline

Most interesting/Complex character: Onoah, Native American from The Oak Openings

Best Quotation: Listen to them – the children of the night. What music they make! ~ Count Dracula referring to the howling of wolves

Runner Up: “You know,” he added very gravely, “it’s one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle – to get one’s head cut off”. ~ Tweedle Dee

Best film adaptation: Coraline

There are pretty good film versions of all of these, except The Oak Openings and The Universal Baseball Association, which I don’t believe have been adapted to film. I believe I read somewhere that A Christmas Carol has been adapted to film more than any other work of literature.

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