A friend recently told me he had just finished The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander's influential book on the racial origins of our prison system, and he wanted my opinion on what to read next. The literature on mass incarceration is extensive, but here are a few books that had a big impact on me. … Continue reading A Little Library of Prison Books, or, What to Read After Finishing “The New Jim Crow”
Adventures in Databasing: NYT Historical, Dec. 31, 1879
The following quotes are taken from a single page of the New York Times--page 5--on a single day in history. They were not "history" then, of course; they were simply "news." Under "AMUSEMENTS/MR. EICHBERG'S VIOLIN CONCERT": As a general rule, the performances of young violinists are of the most unsatisfactory character...Miss Chandler, a prepossessing young … Continue reading Adventures in Databasing: NYT Historical, Dec. 31, 1879
Offerings for Emerson at Sleepy Hollow
Emerson's grave is the least appealing of the bunch: a big, honking chunk of quartz, bearing an unreadable plaque, and almost literally overshadowing the smaller stones around it. The effect is not a happy one. I counted only 3 writing instruments, a few stones, and a piece of paper with a somewhat ugly design. It's … Continue reading Offerings for Emerson at Sleepy Hollow
Offerings for Hawthorne at Sleepy Hollow
I have to admit that I was surprised to find Hawthorne here. He did live at the Old Manse for a time (which was also once home to Emerson), as well as The Wayside (which was also home to Emerson and the Alcotts) but he's more properly associated with Salem, both geographically and thematically. He … Continue reading Offerings for Hawthorne at Sleepy Hollow
Offerings for Alcott at Sleepy Hollow
Here's more on my March visit to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, "Where Concord's Legends Lie." Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) According to Alcott's obituary in the New York Times, March 7, 1888: For a long time Miss Olcott [sic] had been ill, suffering from nervous prostration. Last Autumn she appeared to be improving and went to the … Continue reading Offerings for Alcott at Sleepy Hollow
