If you loved Mark Helprin's A Winter's Tale"

[hedgehog]

you should know that he went to Syracuse University. Syracuse gets hit by LAke effect storm s off of Ontario. Here are some pictures of a lake effect storm off of Lake Erie hitting Buffalo.

http://www.buffalorising.com/city/archives/2007/01/snow_storm_a_gords_eye_vi.php#more

[Fierce]

1. The white wall!

I love that book. Too bad he's a total right-winger. He was Dole's speechwriter.

[hedgehog]

2. Not so!

Mark Helprin is not Mark Helperin! I posted on this a few weeks ago and it turns out that there are a bunch of us who couldn't figure out how such a great writer could be such an ass!

[Fierce]

3. Sadly, so:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Helprin

Halperin and Helprin are two different people. But Helprin is a right winger. He wrote a lot of stuff for the WSJ op ed. From his Web site:

“On The Future of Conservatism.” Commentary, February1997: 27-28.
“Saddam Hussein's Day Off.” Wall Street Journal, 26 November 1997: a14.

“Impeach.” Wall Street Journal, 10 October 1997: a22.
“Crimson Tide. Wall Street Journal, 17 March 1997: a18.

“To Fight for Principle.” Wall Street Journal, 15 January 1997: a16.

“Table of Inflation.” (Poem) Wall Street Journal, 29 November 1996: a6.

“Mr. Clinton's Foreign Policy.” Wall Street Journal, 12 August 1996: a10.

A Spinner of Myths.” Newsweek, 27 May 1996: 37.
“Mr. Vistica's Navy.” Weekly Standard, 25 March 1996: 30-33.

“The Defense of Taiwan.” Wall Street Journal, 7 March 1996: a20.
“GOP Should Beware This Bomb.” Wall Street Journal, 28 February 1996: a15.

“Let Dole Lead.” Wall Street Journal, 2February 1996: a10.

“For A New Concert of Europe.” Commentary, January 1996: 30-46.

“Enchantment in Statist Economics.” Wall Street Journal, 15 January 1996: a12.

“Diversity is Not a Virtue.” In Reinventing The American People: Unity And Diversity Today, ed. Robert Royal (Ethics And Public Policy Center; William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1995), 71-75.

“The National Prospect: a Symposium.” (Contributor) Commentary, November 1995: 23 (3 pages).

“What To Do About Terrorism, Really.” Wall Street Journal, 10 May 1995: a14.

* * * * * * *
Also, anyone who has read "City in Winter" and "Veil of Snows" can't miss his Reaganesque "Peace Through Strength" philosophy he jams into the mouth of the Queen.

He IS a brilliant writer. I find his earlier works much better than his later stuff, though.

[hedgehog]

6. Auuurg!

Well, at least he's not Ezra Pound!

[hedgehog]

7. I checked out some of the articles.

I have to say, I do agree with a lot of what he says in

The Unvarnished Immigration Debate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=208&topic_id=10806&mesg_id=10815

[Fierce]

4. More...

http://www.salon.com/weekly/interview960715.html

[Snap]

5. A sad thing.

A Winters' Tale was such a fine piece of writing. With one hat he wears he is a blessed genius, with another hat a foolish asshole.

[non sociopath skin]

8. Just read his "Freddy and Fredericka" which I bought on a recent trip to the States.

Not unenjoyable but most peculiar with a bizarre Royalist agenda. Clearly a somewhat naive man, politically.

The Skin

[hedgehog]

9. I haven't read it yet, but I have noticed other American

right wingers who have a fantastical notion of the British monarchy.Check out the depiction of Prince Charles in Tom Clancy's Patriot Games for a real hoot.

[non sociopath skin]

10. In "F&F" "Freddy" i.e. Charles almost "earns" the American Presidency ...

... but gives up the opportunity to remain Heir to the Throne.

Rather silly.

The Skin