The Book of the Dead

The Egyptian Book of the Dead presents not only some very interesting ancient poetry but a glimpse into the dreams and beliefs of an entire civilization.  The Book is more than a manual of burial practices; it is a map of the Egyptian afterlife.

A Tragic Poet and His Play

Euripides was a principle tragic poet in Athens, and many of his works are still popular today.  One  of his most famous plays is Medea, a tragic play about betrayal and murder.

Dumas Pere:  The Swashbuckling Hero of the French Novel

Alexandre Dumas, also known as Dumas Pere, is a remarkable figure in French history.  A young man when his father died, he overcame racism, poverty, and lack of a formal education to become one of France's most prolific and enduring authors of the time.

Bertolt Brecht and the Alienation Effect in Theater

German playwright Bertolt Brecht has a unique style.  He developed a new method of theater known as the alienation effect.  This article offers my direct thoughts on him and his play, “In the Jungle of the Cities.”

Diary of Dreams

Anais Nin, a sensitive and fierce writer of diaries and surrealistic fiction, is considered one of the major minor writers of 20^th century literature.  Her diaries are evidence of precise prosaic introspection and her faithfulness to living a life that “proceeds from the dream outward.”