Log24

Dwight Garner today on the late Milan Kundera:

"Kundera’s novels, especially his later ones, could be abstract and
heavy-handed. His characters, at times, were little more than chess pieces.
Their author could be pretentious. His work is filled with observations such as:
'In the sunset of dissolution, everything is illuminated by the aura of nostalgia,
even the guillotine.' But his best fiction retains its moments of sweep and power."

Illustration for Florence King's 1989 review of The Eight , a  novel 
by Katherine Neville that features prominently the date April 4.

See also "Dissolution" in this  journal.

"His story is tragic and fascinating, but also
an interesting symbol for the 20th century."

— "Pawn Sacrifice" review by Jordan Hoffman,
     Sept. 18, 2015

See as well William J. Lombardy's obituary in 
today's online New York Times .

Other symbols —

Logo for a current New York Times  series —

A 1989 New York Times  illustration for Florence King's review of The Eight , 
a  novel by Katherine Neville that features prominently the date April 4 —

Illustration by Rodrigo Shopis

See also recent posts now tagged Five Movements for Lombardy.

Illustration for Florence King's 1989 review of The Eight , a  novel 
by Katherine Neville that features prominently the date April 4.

Madeleine L'Engle meets Captain America —

This is from a Jan. 27, 2012, post on mathematics and narrative.

Related literary criticism by the late Florence King —

"Given all the historical personages the author whistles in,
one more won't hurt. Nicolas Boileau, the 17th-century
French literary critic, gave writers a piece of advice that
Ms. Neville could use: 'Make not your tale of accidents
too full / too much variety will make it dull / Achilles' rage
alone, when wrought with skill /Abundantly does a whole
"Iliad" fill.' "

— NY Times  review of The Eight , a novel by Katherine Neville