Author Archives: Tommy Collison

Bawdiness in The Canterbury Tales

Posted on April 27, 2021 by Tommy Collison

I knew absolutely nothing about The Canterbury Tales before it was on my great books list and before I read it in the last two weeks. David and I decided to add it to “Reading The Greats” discussion series, and I’m … Continue reading →

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Sunday Links, 4/25/21

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Tommy Collison

I’m delighted to say that I’ve found at least one other person who cultivates these sorts of literary-minded links. Notes in the Margin is an excellent blog that has a “Literary Links” section. “Bartsch’s spirited, readable translation is a […] … Continue reading →

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Friday Links, 4/23/21

Posted on April 23, 2021 by Tommy Collison

Dr. Shadi Bartsch has a predictably excellent conversation with Tyler. Her translation of The Aeneid is fantastic, but her commentary on Virgil, the era in which he was writing, and the choices he makes in the text are even better. Profile of … Continue reading →

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Should we teach Shakespeare?

Posted on April 20, 2021 by Tommy Collison

I spent a semester of college as Opinion Editor for the Washington Square News, NYU’s student paper, and it was easily the most enjoyable and formative few months of my college years. We did a lot of what we called point-counterpoint, … Continue reading →

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An update on Howard University’s Classics Department

Posted on April 19, 2021 by Tommy Collison

They are indeed shutting it down — here’s a statement from Dr. Alexander Tulin to the Society for Classical Studies: “Howard University has decided to close the Department of Classics as part of its prioritization efforts and is currently negotiating … Continue reading →

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A Request + Sunday Links, 4/18/21

Posted on April 18, 2021 by Tommy Collison

As well as being a place I can put some notes down on the Great Books, I want to use this blog as a sort of village pump for the conversations around Classics and the 21st century. I’m still experimenting … Continue reading →

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Tuesday Links, 4/13/21

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Tommy Collison

Howard University is considering getting rid of its Classics department. Tell Me Aristotle, Why Do We Have Butts? Relevant to this project: the blog Anne with a Book asks: are classic books inherently better than modern books? (To me, “inherently” is … Continue reading →

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What I’ve Been Reading

Posted on March 31, 2021 by Tommy Collison

Having already borrowed the linked post, it made sense to borrow “What I’ve Been Reading” as well. So without further ado… Jonathan Marks, Let’s Be Reasonable: A Conservative Case for Liberal Education. A line I use a lot at Lambda … Continue reading →

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Tuesday Links 3/30/21

Posted on March 30, 2021 by Tommy Collison

Thoughts on Fiction, Real Life, and Escapism. A tribute to many madmen. “Once upon a time, G. K. Chesterton wrote a story about a madman who was really the sanest man of all. Actually, now that I think about it, … Continue reading →

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Leon Katz on the value of a liberal education

Posted on March 28, 2021 by Tommy Collison

I’m a big fan of the idea of having personal boards of directors: people who care enough about what you’re up to that you keep up-to-date via email or the occasional lunch date. They can offer feedback, advice, intros, whatever … Continue reading →

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