When we think gangsters and Prohibition, Brooklyn-born Al Capone usually comes to mind. Known as “Scarface,” Capone gained notoriety for his reign as the crime boss of The Chicago Outfit. Twenty-five years before Capone is born, another later-to-be American gangster is born in Berlin, Germany. “The Ghosts of Eden Park” tells the story of this…
Do You Know ‘A Christmas Carol’?
Like a good many Christmas traditions and trappings, a fresh look at them may return luster to a dullness that can build up with time and custom. In fact, from a cultural perspective, such an exercise is part of the whole purpose of Christmas and the impending New Year. It’s a time to consider ourselves…
What Good Is Poetry? Shakespeare’s ‘Winter’ and the Hard Joys of the Season
The world bound up in the snow and ice of winter is as fascinating as it is forbidding. Hoary mountains, blinding blizzards, snowy deserts, solid waters, fluid fires of the aurora borealis, and air that stings to breathe all give the distinct impression that men ought not keep company with such inhospitable presences. But how…
Book Review: ‘Captain Putnam for the Republic of Texas’
When Americans think of the American Revolution, they typically think of the ground troops led by men such as George Washington, Daniel Morgan, and Nathanael Greene. When it comes to fighting on the high seas, it’s the French Navy that comes to mind. The Continental Navy, aside from possibly John Paul Jones, typically isn’t given…
Book Review: ‘How America’s Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy’
In “Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy,” Newsweek journalist Batya Ungar-Sargon provides a timely overview of the problems plaguing American journalism. The subject of media bias and misconduct is well-trodden ground in conservative circles, but Ungar-Sargon comes at this from a left-of-center perspective. While she takes issue with many media trends, her key criticism…
Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading
This week, we suggest a bit of humor to brighten your days, and recommend a classic American play that will touch your heart. History A Forgotten History of America History of the United States By Noah Webster Written for students in 1838, this textbook by prolific author Noah Webster (of dictionary fame) is a fascinating…
French Courtly Finesse in New York: 18th-Century Luxury Books
In 1966, Vogue photographer Cecil Beaton captured renowned art collector and philanthropist Jayne Wrightsman’s portrait. Just a year earlier, in 1965, Wrightsman had been added to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. Fittingly, in the photograph, Wrightsman is pictured elegantly poised on a settee in her Versailles-esque New York apartment. It was around…
Epoch Booklist: Noteworthy Reads
History Exposing the Plan to Divide America “Debunking the 1619 Project” By Mary Grabar The 1619 Project was key in introducing critical race theory into schools. Mary Grabar’s in-depth research debunks its claims about slavery and exposes the tricks used to misrepresent figures such as Abraham Lincoln. An essential read. Regnery History, 2021, 320 pages…
Melinda Gates Forms Nonfiction Book Imprint, Moment of Lift
NEW YORK—Melinda French Gates, already one of the world’s most prominent philanthropists, will now take on the job of publisher. Gates has formed a nonfiction imprint with Flatiron Books, a division of Macmillan. The imprint, announced Tuesday by Macmillan, is called Moment of Lift Books and will launch with three releases about women and girls,…
Epoch Booklist: What to Read
Classics Meditations By Marcus Aurelius It’s doubtful that Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius envisioned his personal notes would shine for centuries. But words are powerful, and his reflections on Stoic philosophy and living a virtuous life offer us a valuable perspective on wisdom, justice, and courage. Random House, May 2003, 256 pages Thriller Black Ice By…
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