Monthly Archives: February 2013

Field Trip to Antarctica

As we lead up to our discussion of The Brief History of the Dead in April, we’re sharing articles and news of related interest.

One of the fascinating aspects of The Brief History of the Dead is the glimpse it provides into living as a researcher in Antarctica. There are many interesting books on the discovery and development of the South Pole, and we’ll have a list of titles to share in April, but for now I’ll just note that author Kevin Brockmeier has mentioned The Worst Journey in the World by Cherry-Garrard Apsley as one that provided a lot of insight.

I also recently discovered that The Field Museum sent a team of researchers to Antarctica in November, 2012 and they posted videos, photos and blogs of their experiences that people might find of interest.

By the way, if you’ve ever dreamed of visiting Antarctica as I have, take a look at some of the introductory materials provided by Lonely Planet travel guides.

On an entirely different note, but still in keeping with the theme of Our Community Reads, the Field Museum has an interesting exhibition until June, called Images of the Afterlife.

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In April, the St. Charles Public Library and Elgin Community College are cosponsoring a variety of events for “Our Community Reads.” Members of the community are encouraged to read the book, The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier and join in the conversation.

Death and Taxes and Literature

As we lead up to the Our Community Reads discussion of The Brief History of the Dead in April, we’re sharing articles and news of related interest.

In an earlier post I referred to a familiar quote that is usually given as: “Nothing in this world is certain but death and taxes.”  As I checked for the source of this saying, I was surprised to learn that the origin is somewhat of a mystery!
BenFranklin
Most credible sites give the source as Benjamin Franklin, who wrote in a 1789 letter: “Our Constitution is in actual operation; everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.

However, researchers have also noted that in 1716, an English playwright named Christopher Bullock wrote a short farce, based on the Induction from Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, titled The Cobler of Preston in which an actor states:

‘Tis impossible to be sure of any thing but Death and Taxes.”

Was Franklin perhaps aware of this rowdy parody and simply echoing Bullock’s words in his letter?

Another00f/05/brum/14321/10x067 possible origin is from the 1726 book by Daniel Defoe, The History of the Devil (which you can read online if you’re interested): “Things as certain as Death and Taxes, can be more firmly believ’d.”

Gone-With-The-WindAnd finally, although this appears in print much later (1936) it is worth noting that Margaret Mitchell has Scarlett O’Hara (who, by the way, was almost named Pansy) pick up on this theme in Gone with the Wind: “Death and taxes and childbirth! There’s never any convenient time for any of them!”

So, just how and when did this saying became part of popular culture? No one seems certain.

The connection of any of this with Our Community Reads is, admittedly, a bit tenuous, but I anticipate that one of the many things to discuss about The Brief History of the Dead, will be that while death is certain, we can still be “kept alive” in the memories of those who remain after we are gone.

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In April the St. Charles Public Library and Elgin Community College are cosponsoring a variety of events for “Our Community Reads.”  Members of the community are encouraged to read the book, The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier and join in the conversation.

Searching for Signs of the Afterlife

As we lead up to our discussion of The Brief History of the Dead in April, we’re sharing articles and news of related interest.

USA Today recently ran an article pointing out an increase in popularity of books written by those who have had a near-death experience. At the Library we certainly saw a long “holds” list on Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo for several months and have had requests for similar books. In The Brief History of the Dead, author Kevin Brockmeier presents an interesting scenario of what happens immediately after dying that may or may not ring true to readers. But the fact remains that many of us are fascinated by the “what if” questions of life after death and so, of course, we will be intrigued by those who claim to have first-hand knowledge.

Heaven Is fo rReal      To Heaven and Back     Proof of Heaven

I also wonder if, in these times of so much uncertainty, we are more prone to take a look at “big picture” questions? As it is often said, one thing we can be certain of is death. Considering the possibilities of what happens afterwards is an investigative journey many people undertake. Have you found any certain book to be enlightening? Feel free to share now in the comments and later as part of Our Community Reads!