Additionally Noted

by Cliopatria

Jonathan Edelstein,"Making Money," Head Heeb, 8 November, looks at counterfeit coinage and prosecuting it in 17th and 18th century England. And if you intend"to utter" some of it, be prepared for an unpleasant punishment. Thanks to Sharon Howard at Early Modern Notes for the tip.

Some of the most dreadful prose I've ever plowed through has been in historiographical essays, but it's a pleasure to recommend: Stephen Cox,"Historians' Triumphs," Liberty, December 2005. A professor of literature at UC, San Diego, Cox both writes and appreciates fine prose. Here, he looks at six great older works in New World history: David Hackett Fischer, Historians' Fallacies: Toward a Logic of Historical Thought (Harper & Row, 1975); Burr C. Brundage, Empire of the Inca (1963; reprint University of Oklahoma Press, 1985); Hugh Thomas, Conquest: Montezuma, Cortés, and the Fall of Old Mexico (Simon & Schuster, 1993); Francis Parkman, France and England in North America 2 volumes (reprint Library of America, 1983); William O. Scroggs, Filibusters and Financiers: The Story of William Walker and His Associates (1916; reprint Russell & Russell, 1969); and William Cronon's Nature's Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West (Norton, 1991). Thanks to Alfredo Perez at Political Theory Daily Review and Nic Palar at SUNY, Purchase, for the tip.

I have no further comment on matters related in: Rob Capriccioso,"Online Quicksand," Inside Higher Ed, 10 November. [more ...]

Annie Groer,"A Soldier's Home," Washington Post, 10 November, describes the restoration of General George C. Marshall's home, Dodona Manor, at Leesburg, Virginia. It will be open tomorrow, Veterans' Day, to invited guests and will open to the public in December.

Hala Fattah writes from Aman, Jordan, that she and her family are safe, but that the son of a close friend was killed in the bombing at the Hyatt Hotel.

Finally, farewell to Gordon Craig, who has died in California.

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Ralph E. Luker - 11/11/2005

Nic, Thanks for the correction.

Nic Palar - 11/11/2005

Thanks for the mention, but I actually go to SUNY Purchase College now.

The Hopkins fencing team is just a few years slow in updating their roster. :D

Louis N Proyect - 11/10/2005

I WANT TO STRONGLY OBJECT TO MY REFERENCE TO WILLIAM WALKER AS "***** *****" BEING REMOVED. I WON'T EVEN USE THE WORDS AGAIN AT RISK OF BEING PREVENTED FROM MAKING COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG IN THE FUTURE. THERE ARE NO WORDS TOO "UNCIVIL" TO DESCRIBE A MAN LIKE WILLIAM WALKER WHO USED FORCE OF ARMS TO IMPOSE SLAVERY ON MEXICO AND NICARAGUA. WHAT KINDS OF WORDS SHOULD WE BE PREVENTED FROM USING WITH RESPECT TO ADOLPH HITLER, I WONDER? I ABSOLUTELY RESENT BEING TOLD THAT A SLAVEMONGER LIKE WILLIAM WALKER NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED FROM HATE SPEECH. RIDICULOUS.

Ralph E. Luker - 11/10/2005

You keep talking about Walker, about whom you, Cox, and I probably agree. Your resentment of what Cox and, by implication, I said really has to do with the responses of Nicaraguans to Walker. That, at least, is what I was talking about.

Louis N Proyect - 11/10/2005

This comment has been removed as a violation of HNN Comment Policy.

Ralph E. Luker - 11/10/2005

Mr. Proyect, If you read what Mr. Cox and I actually said, there's no implication that either of us find "redeeming" qualities about William Walker. My only point to you is that history is often complicated in ways we can't and, therefore, don't anticipate and that human beings sometimes do not react to situations as you and I might think they should.

Louis N Proyect - 11/10/2005

Dr. Luker, I have to assume that you too find something redeeming about William Walker. How sad, especially for somebody with civil rights credentials.

Ralph E. Luker - 11/10/2005

It _is_ bizarre when the natives fail to have correct political attitudes, isn't it? We should have been there to impose correct political opinion on them.

Louis N Proyect - 11/10/2005

He seems to be a horse's ass, especially in light of his take on William Walker:

"The Yankee-imperialism approach also misses the fact that he gained considerable support among Central Americans trying to extricate themselves from the swamp of the region's cruel and ridiculous politics. In the republics of the isthmus, anyone who came from abroad and looked as if he might actually change something exerted an instant and not wholly irrational appeal."

Bizarre.

Hiram Hover - 11/10/2005

I'll agree that the Deignan-Bitch PhD-Hettle story is reaching the point of overload. But I did find amusing the last paragraph of that Inside Higher Ed piece you linked:

"King, one of Deignan’s advisers, had perhaps the most unique take on the situation in today’s Web-based society: 'I don’t understand what blogs are,' he said. 'Apparently, though, they can get you in trouble.' "