arkadypyotrovich

Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 3

[At length, after an absence doubtless not unwelcome, the historian whose heavy hand is responsible for the preceding posts returns, with five weeks’ worth of writing. If he had the opportunity, no doubt, he would completely rewrite the remainder of this Chapter. As is, he must settle for some brief explanatory remarks. The first isContinue reading “Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 3”

Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 2

Descriptions of Browne as a writer tend to be backwards, in that they present his private face before his public face. The reason is that his private face seems unusually accessible. His greatest work is a kind of personal confession or stylised journal that he never intended to publish. People read Browne for Browne, simplyContinue reading “Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 2”

Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 1

Some years ago, the Western world succumbed to the force of its own personality and arrogated itself to one of the most bizarre titles in the history of civilisation. There is something quaint in the old Roman idea that a golden age might come after an iron age and outshine it, as if, having progressedContinue reading “Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 1”

Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Preface

Having indulged myself to the full in that vastly superior manner of blogging, to wit, not blogging at all, I take up my pen once more. The definite disadvantage of this new method is that I have to write. The dubious advantage is that other people can read. I am often led to reflect uponContinue reading “Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Preface”