Words&Dirt

The title of Madeline Miller’s retelling of The Iliad is a composite of two alternate names for the classic Greek poem: “The Anger of Achilles” and “The Song of Troy.” This careful bit of wordsmithing mirrors the nature of her project, for The Song of Achilles is a narrative blend of ancient traditions and modern values––a compassionate recasting of [...]

Reading Mathew A. Foust’s Loyalty to Loyalty was a special treat for me. Foust was the graduate teaching fellow who led my discussion section for Mark Johnson’s Philosophy 101 lecture course during my first term at the University of Oregon. It is no understatement to say that Foust changed my life; after just a few weeks, he encouraged [...]