What a wonderful tribute to an author who clearly means a lot to you. The only White books I've ever read are Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little. I've also made use of Elements of Style, although I've never read it cover to cover, but I am inspired to read more if I can.
I especially resonated with a passage about White you quote in your essay:
“Like Thoreau, White delighted in exploring the fullness of life as an individual. Like Thoreau, he was divided between “the desire to enjoy the world (and not be derailed by a mosquito wing) and the urge to set the world straight.””
You could almost say that that is my credo. Thanks for making me ponder it!
Thank you, Kurt! I also love the comparisons to Thoreau. He and Emerson remain two of my longtime artistic guides. Their work regarding the sanctity of the individual is so important!
George, thank you so much for reading! That is so cool he and your wonderful mother share a birthday. Happy belated heavenly birthday to your mom. And, now I can tell people I know just a bit of Hebrew thanks to you! ;) <3 I've always had an interest in Hebrew, but never took the time to study it.
Thank you for this lovely post, Rebecca! I totally forgot that E. B. White had a July birthday. There's a poem that I always think about when his birthday rolls around. It is Sarah Freligh's "Wondrous" and it is one of my favorite poems.
I am assuming the librarian has the permission to share it. I am not sure where else to find a kosher reprinting, but you can find it in stray places on the internet. I have purchased multiple copies of Freligh's collection, Sad Math, just to share this poem.
Thank you so much for reading, Zina! And thank you for sharing this amazing poem! I had to hold back tears while listening to it. I’m bookmarking it so I can revisit the recording. But, that’s the type of poem that stays with you, even if you only experience it once.
What a wonderful tribute to an author who clearly means a lot to you. The only White books I've ever read are Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little. I've also made use of Elements of Style, although I've never read it cover to cover, but I am inspired to read more if I can.
I especially resonated with a passage about White you quote in your essay:
“Like Thoreau, White delighted in exploring the fullness of life as an individual. Like Thoreau, he was divided between “the desire to enjoy the world (and not be derailed by a mosquito wing) and the urge to set the world straight.””
You could almost say that that is my credo. Thanks for making me ponder it!
Thank you, Kurt! I also love the comparisons to Thoreau. He and Emerson remain two of my longtime artistic guides. Their work regarding the sanctity of the individual is so important!
Same birthday as my mom z"l ❤️ 💔 - this July 11 she would have been 100
z"l - is a contraction of Hebrew letters for: may her memory be a blessing
Great article Rebecca. Always nice to read your erudite posts
George, thank you so much for reading! That is so cool he and your wonderful mother share a birthday. Happy belated heavenly birthday to your mom. And, now I can tell people I know just a bit of Hebrew thanks to you! ;) <3 I've always had an interest in Hebrew, but never took the time to study it.
This is lovely, Rebecca. So good to discover more about EB White, and his years at the New Yorker.
The toughest part of this essay was narrowing down excerpts to use from White’s work. He’s such a quotable writer! I so appreciate you reading, Ann!
Thank you for this lovely post, Rebecca! I totally forgot that E. B. White had a July birthday. There's a poem that I always think about when his birthday rolls around. It is Sarah Freligh's "Wondrous" and it is one of my favorite poems.
You can see the recording here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2654775294813661
I am assuming the librarian has the permission to share it. I am not sure where else to find a kosher reprinting, but you can find it in stray places on the internet. I have purchased multiple copies of Freligh's collection, Sad Math, just to share this poem.
Thank you so much for reading, Zina! And thank you for sharing this amazing poem! I had to hold back tears while listening to it. I’m bookmarking it so I can revisit the recording. But, that’s the type of poem that stays with you, even if you only experience it once.