I did not like the John Updike upon first encounter in high school. Harry Angstrom (Rabbit) is not my cup of tea and so I never really followed up and read his other material. However, before the Cold War ended I read this piece by John Updike in Commentary. It is a beautiful rendition of the liberal anti-Communist cause. The Weathermen make an appearance. Updike voted Democrat and came out for Obama this time as well. But this take down of the easy anti-anti-Communism of the Boston literati thrilled me then and it thrills me now.
I read almost no fiction anymore save historical fiction and so am unlikely to ever pick up his work again, but at a time when it was easy to abandon one's country and a small people far away of whom we know little, Updike didn't. R.I.P.
3 comments:
At the risk of invoking the wrath of the html police, here's some of his non-fiction that I know you'll appreciate:
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/articles/hub_fans_bid_kid_adieu_article.shtml
JWT
Better yet, let me try inserting a better link.
JU was serious golfer but he knew enough not to take it too seriously. I am trying to find an appropriate quote of his about the game.
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