Marguerite Duras was born on 4 April 1914.
“She had lived her early years as though she were waiting for something she might, but never did, become.”-Marguerite Duras, The Ravishing of Lol Stein
The tomb of Marguerite Duras
Washington Irving, a titan in the annals of American Literature, was born on 3 April 1783.
“There is a serene and settled majesty to woodland scenery that enters into the soul and delights and elevates it, and fills it with noble inclinations.”-Washington Irving
Surprisingly, the father of Ichabod and Rip was something of a dreamboat as a young man.
Washington Irving at 22.
Portrait of Washington Irving by John Wesley Jarvis, 1809.
Washington Irving in 1820.
“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.”-Émile Zola (born 2 April 1840)
Buddy Ebsen, 1936. He was born on 2 April 1908.
Shirley Temple and Buddy Ebsen in Captain January (1936).
The winter-encrusted inhabitants of this drafty house are agog at the most gladsome of all tidings: spring is here! It is here! It is here! Glorious. Insistent. Blustery. She’s a grand dame, is Spring. I should be writing. I could be cleaning. I would, I would…but it is 77 degrees outside! The day that a season elbows her way back into our lives is a cause for celebration, not concentration.
I’m as happy as Clara Bow with a beach ball!
This is where I put words about how the contented chirping of birds, barking of dogs, and mewing of small children have all joined to create the newest soundtrack sensation. Ice cream trucks, green shoots of plants I am constitutionally unable to recognize but overjoyed to see, and motorcycle engines belong here, too. Tank tops, sandals, and Margaritas for the win!
The front porch boards are warm beneath my feet.
“If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once every week.”-Charles Darwin
The Drawbridge by Vincent van Gogh, 1888. I’d add “look at beautiful things as often as possible” to the list.
It’s Opening Day! If you live in America, you know what this means. For the rest of you, I’m referring to our national pastime: baseball. This is my excuse for being (otherwise) absent from the blog today. Here are some links to tide you over. See you tomorrow!
Legendary Cleveland pitcher Bob Feller for Roadmaster, 1941.
Vincent van Gogh was born on 30 March 1853.
A portrait of the artist:
Portrait of Vincent van Gogh by John Peter Russell, 1886. It is no wonder Kirk Douglas played the painter in the 1956 film adaptation of Irving Stone’s novel, Lust for Life.
Listen to Orson Welles’ Classic Radio Performance of 10 Shakespeare Plays [courtesy Open Culture]
YES, PLEASE!
Orson Welles, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, March 1, 1937
I am a very serious writer Weimaraner photograph by retinalperspectives. $22.00
All 339 Books Referenced In “Gilmore Girls” [courtesy BuzzFeed Books]
It’s exhaustive, naturally. She’s a reader after my own heart.
A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea. 