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Seth's avatar

I tried to think who might be a "literary" hero of mine, and the name that popped up was T.H. White, though come to think of it I basically know nothing about him. Now I am curious to try to find out more, but also a bit nervous.

Henry Oliver's avatar

You like the sword in the stone?

Seth's avatar

The Once and Future King had a huge impact on me when I read it as a teenager! I made a Goodreads account many years ago for the sole purpose of reviewing it. And I even have a copy of the standalone version of Sword in the Stone, which is quite different than the version included in The Once and Future King!

So I guess that's a yes, lol.

Henry Oliver's avatar

haha indeed. I actually never read it but have been hankering for it for a few years. I love very much the Sylvia Townsend Warner biography of White.

Mark M Breza's avatar

The fake Arthurian myth is how the Southern Agrarians ennobled their cause of a royal idyllic pastoral led by a Pure Ice White King . The Fugitives creeped into the Ivies as Professors with their knowledge of British Lit .

Plenty of the tech youth now idolize Tolkien .

Gosh, YB Yeats spun the fairytale into a gyre . Then came all the Modern followers initiated by Ezra Pound .

Ronald Turnbull's avatar

Ah, there's also a book about falconry. If you read h is for hawk by I think Helen Donaldson is the author's name- it is an excellent book in its own right and it will tell you quite a lot about TH White. Going by that book you will have an* interesting* time adopting him as a hero. And yes, the once and future king complete is a lot more than the sword in the stone.

Will Luzader's avatar

Patrick Kurp is one of my heroes, and Anecdotal Evidence is a gem. Every day, it seems, I can't believe that website still exists. We ought to appreciate it and cherish it while it lasts.

Charleen Fondrevay's avatar

Many thanks for enriching our 'reader life'. I just watched your video/reading of your essay on reading Peter Pan to your children which has inspired me to reread it as an adult from your perspective. Also I followed up on your referral to the blog Ancedotal Evidence. Is there a way to subscribe to it? I couldn't find the subscription box.

Henry Oliver's avatar

I couldn’t see one either sadly

Mike O’Brien's avatar

I'll just have to bookmark this page on substack then.

Mark M Breza's avatar

The Nigerian playwright and poet,

Wole Soyinka, is often called the "Shakespeare of Africa"

, a Noble Laureate

, and the U.S. just revoked his Visa .

Under the cover of saving Amerikans ?