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Thoroughly Modern Modigliani

From Web Exclusives

Those visiting England between now and October 15 will have the opportunity to visit an exhibition, at the Royal Academy, of works by the Italian-born artist Amedeo Modigliani. One of the prodigies of Eliot’s Wasteland generation, Modigliani died, as he had lived, in sordid squalor. Having . . . . Continue Reading »

JP: More on Lord of the Rings

From Web Exclusives

Further to my comments about The Lord of the Rings , I wanted to mention a new documentary about Tolkien’s epic that does it anything but justice. Tolkien described The Lord of the Rings as "a fundamentally religious and Catholic work" and, on another occasion, insisted that the fact . . . . Continue Reading »

JP: Tribute to Belloc

From Web Exclusives

In the healthily rambunctious spirit of Michael Novak’s posting yesterday (I refer to his "Beer Blessing" in ecclesiastically resplendent Latin), I was reminded of Belloc’s immortal lines in praise of the place of ale in Western civilization. I apologize in advance for the . . . . Continue Reading »

The Watch and Ward Society

From the April 2006 Print Edition

A book should not be judged by its cover; nor, perhaps, should it be judged by its opening pages. The opening pages of this book are plagued by the sort of wooly-mindedness that its subject devoted his life to combating. It does not do Wilfrid Ward justice, and it does him a veritable injustice . . . . Continue Reading »