The latest issue of The Land Report features a long excerpt from Horses to Ride, Cattle to Cut: The San Antonio Viejo Ranch of Texas. Of course Wyman Meinzer's photos make the thing read a hell of a lot better. My thanks and compliments to editor Eric O'Keefe and his staff at TLR. Read More
HOME RANGE: Notes on Literature, Nature, Working Dogs, History, Martial Arts, Other Obsessions and Sundry Annoyances by Henry Chappell
Horses to Ride, Cattle to Cut excerpt in The Land Report
April 3, 2017
The latest issue of The Land Report features a long excerpt from Horses to Ride, Cattle to Cut: The San Antonio Viejo Ranch of Texas. Of course Wyman Meinzer's photos make the thing read a hell of a lot better. My thanks and compliments to editor Eric O'Keefe and his staff at TLR. Read More
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A Few Words in Favor of Literary Conservatives
March 23, 2017
A few weeks back, in Financial Times, Janan Ganesh put in a few good words for literary conservatives – an endangered species nowadays. Being a man of conservative sensibility myself, and a novelist, I read the column with surprise and satisfaction. Here’s Ganesh:
“A dark view of humans, a certain resignation to the imperfectibility of things, is what marks literature out from the idealistic arts. We expect actors and musicians to be left-liberal. When Meryl Streep uses an awards podium as a bully pulpit, and Lily Allen tweets against Brexit, they are doing what entertainers always do. Visual artists, too, at least in the 20th century and since, subvert political authority, organised religion and commerce."
Read the whole thing.
Update: The Financial Times website won't let me simply copy and paste a link to the column, and I'm too lazy to figure out a work-around. But you can google "literary conservatives" and "financial times" and get to the column.
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“A dark view of humans, a certain resignation to the imperfectibility of things, is what marks literature out from the idealistic arts. We expect actors and musicians to be left-liberal. When Meryl Streep uses an awards podium as a bully pulpit, and Lily Allen tweets against Brexit, they are doing what entertainers always do. Visual artists, too, at least in the 20th century and since, subvert political authority, organised religion and commerce."
Read the whole thing.
Update: The Financial Times website won't let me simply copy and paste a link to the column, and I'm too lazy to figure out a work-around. But you can google "literary conservatives" and "financial times" and get to the column.
Read More
Come one, come all!
March 6, 2017
If you'll be in the Cleburne, Texas area this coming Thursday, I'd love to see you. I've got your talk, your books, and, most importantly, a bunch of Wyman Meinzer's photos to show you. I'll always have a soft spot for small town libraries. My thanks to Tina Dunham, Amy Graham, and the other great folks with the Cleburne Public Library.
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King Ranch!
February 12, 2017
Wyman and I enjoyed two great events yesterday at the King Ranch Saddle Shop in Kingsville, Texas. Signed a pile of books and made new friends and caught up with old friends. It's always good to get back to the legendary ranch. The Saddle Shop folks put on a wonderful signing. We couldn't have asked for better hosts. The long, shared history of the King Ranch and San Antonio Viejo Ranch made this trip special.
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I have an Idea ...
February 6, 2017
This could take a while. I don't have time just yet. It's driving me crazy. I'll have to convince some reckless magazine editor. That's all for now.