Christmas is one of those words that immediately brings thoughts to mind. First, and foremost in these troubled times, is the hope for peace on earth. Hard on the heels of our heartfelt sentiments come the tumbling images of gifts and feasting. Deluged by jolly Santa Clauses, decorated evergreen trees, and twinkling light displays during the holiday season, it's easy to forget … [Read more...] about Sláinte: Christmas Is Coming & The Goose Is Getting Fat
Christmas
Christmas was Magic and Magic was Mother
One Christmas was so much like another in those years, to borrow a line from Dylan Thomas. Mother, who celebrated every feast day with aplomb – Shrove Tuesday with specially prepared pancakes, Halloween with monkey nuts (peanuts in the shell), bobbing for apples, and Barmbrack – saved her most elaborate plans for Christmas. And I do mean saved. We had a farm but money was far … [Read more...] about Christmas was Magic and Magic was Mother
The Ideal Christmas Gift for Joyce Fans
How's this for a stocking stuffer? On December 14 Christie's New York will offer a newly discovered manuscript of a chapter of James Joyce's Ulysses. The manuscript is an early draft for the Circe episode, the longest and arguably most important of the novel's 18 episodes. It consists of 27 large sheets covered with dense handwriting, with additions on the back in Joyce's own … [Read more...] about The Ideal Christmas Gift for Joyce Fans