Rodin and literature

I recall in ‘95/’96 each of the kids had an ongoing English assignment while living in Lyon: to write a story for each pictures we took. I, too, should give a little more thought to this experience & share my observations. How I love history and literature.

Go little book and wish to all
Flowers in the garden meat in the hall
A bin of wine a spice of wit
A house with lawns enclosing it
A living river by the door a nightingale in the sycamore


Yesterday I found, first of all, an English bookstore… good old W.H. Smith. I got Suite Française by Irene Nemirovsky. I sat in the Tuileries Gardens and started it … and was immediately captivated by the introduction of different social classes in June 1940 … and what happenes to each family as they flee Paris. All that they "know" dissolves in the midst of fear, helplessness and starvation. The entire issue of man's nature, the root of evil, its control and deception continues to be played out every day. Watching CNN News - what has changed? Being here gives me a chance to scope out history and see the patterns of civilizations and cultures rise and fall. The frailty of man, and his need of true life purpose. How does one find personal safety.. what does one live by.. are we secure or stradling deceptions? Our development of thinking to protect our own ability to cope with experiences.. sense of value and purpose .. and are those ideas actually “imposters”? How do each of us deal with evil? This is well addressed in CS Lewis’ book Mere Christianity, radio talks given to the Brits during the WW2 bombings.
I am looking forward to doing a walking tour of the French Resistance. Hitler marching down the Champs Elysees, unmatched by the joy of the Victory parades on the very same avenue. Seeing an article in The Walrus, about The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, it is interesting to also find a book here called The Dawkins Delusion. Does God exist?

I also looked at a book called The Reading Group by Elisabeth Noble. It is not necessarily the books we enjoy sharing, but rather each others lives as we express our understanding of the materials. Hi bookclub ladies… missing you all.

I went to the Musee Rodin. The statues, as well as his private collections of Greek and Roman antiquity, that influenced his craft. My favorite was The Monument to the Burghers of Calais. The mansion itself, Hotel Biron, with its magnificent peace filled spring garden, inside the walls, took me back to another love. I shall return when the 2,000+ rose bushes are in bloom. For now, peonies and lilacs. Paintings by van Gogh also again intrigued me. Rodin managed to live in this palace… and with others help, he appealed to the federal government to make it his museum by donating all his works. Now there’s some wise politicking… I doubt the NAC would be up to that.






Another sculptor I am meeting around Paris is Jean Dubuffet. Creativity has different flavors in different eras.