Today is the 150th anniversary of the birth of John Singer Sargent, in my view America's greatest painter.
It is also the 130th anniversary of the birth of Jack London, one of its greatest writers. (Don't think so? Read "Building a Fire" again. Or Martin Eden.)
"There is an ecstasy," London wrote, "that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive, and it comes as a complete forgetfulness that one is alive." Yes.
Updated to correct typo indicating it was Jack London's 100th birthday. He was born in 1876, as reader Arthur Gadfly has noted in the comments.
130 it is, Arthur. That's what comes of typing too fast at the end of a too-long day. Thanks for the catch. We will duly correct.
ReplyDelete