The Four Freedoms

 

President Franklin D. Roosevelt defined “The Four Freedoms” in a speech in 1941. These images by Norman Rockwell were used in the War Bonds campaign in World War II, when the freedoms were jeopardized. We still have to fight for them.

The Fatal Moment

 

We voted early, but walked by the polling place to see what was happening.
Amazed at total lack of a line: I guess EVERYONE voted early!

Photos © 2024 mae sander

Magic

 

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke,
illustrated by Portia Rosenberg.

I could not tell you why I decided to reread Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, except that its uncanny magical universe has something to do with a short new book by the same author. It’s a very long book: 850 pages, and it took me around a week of reading and being rather engaged with the history of the Napoleonic wars as experienced — and altered — by two English magicians and their circles of friends, relatives, acquaintances, and enemies. The magicians’ main enemy is a Fairy, a malevolent and self-centered creature. The fairy appears to many characters in the novel, and never means any good to them.

 

The fairy was described at his first appearance in the novel:

“a tall, handsome person with pale, perfect skin and an immense amount of hair, as pale and shining as thistle-down. His cold, blue eyes glittered and he had long dark eye-brows, which terminated in an upward flourish. He was dressed exactly like any other gentleman, except that his coat was of the brightest green imaginable – the colour of leaves in early summer.” (p. 90)

In the illustration, you can see the fairy who is obviously up to no good. Specifically, the magician Mr. Norrell has summoned him from a fairy realm beyond England to bring a beautiful young girl back from the dead. The bargain that’s made between magician and fairy is at the heart of many of the events in the novel. If you’ve ever read a fairy tale you wouldn’t be surprised at the consequences of such a bargain.

Another of Portia Rosenberg’s illustrations.

Mr Strange and Mr Norrell Take Tea

There are many plots and subplots about the two magicians Strange and Norrell and the magic that they do for the government of England, for individual noblemen, for their own interests, and in the case of Strange, for his wife. A number of other Englishmen want to be magicians as well, and they also play a role in the elaborate plot of the novel. All is tied together by the personalities of the magicians.

Both magicians are fond of taking a cup of tea, which is viewed as part of their deeply rooted Englishness. Being both typical and loyal is important to them and to the atmosphere of the novel.  When Mr. Norrell tries to offer his services to a Captain Harcourt-Bruce, the captain expects magical drama, troops of enchanted soldiers and swashbuckling magical victories. Instead, Norrell is rather an ordinary Englishman, not the leader of ideal fairy knights imagined by the military man: “That was Captain Harcourt-Bruce’s idea of a magician. That was the sort of thing which he now expected to see reproduced on every battlefield on the Continent. So when he saw Mr Norrell in his drawing-room in Hanover-square, and after he had sat and watched Mr Norrell peevishly complain to his footman, first that the cream in his tea was too creamy, and next that it was too watery – well, I shall not surprize you when I say he was somewhat disappointed.” (p. 107)

There’s even a reference to the supposed civilizing virtues of tea, concerning a captain who was  “entertaining the American savages and teaching them to drink tea (presumably with the idea that once a man had learnt to drink tea, the other habits and qualities that make up a Briton would naturally follow).” (p. 477) 

Mr. Norrell loved the comforts of his well-appointed home, and didn’t go out if he could help it. He preferred to stay in and read one of the thousands of books of magic in his collection; for example: “On a day in late December when storm clouds made Alpine landscapes in the sky above London, when the wind played such havoc in the heavens that the city was one moment plunged in gloom and the next illuminated by sunlight, when rain rattled upon the windowpane, Mr Norrell was seated comfortably in his library before a cheerful fire. The tea table spread with a quantity of good things stood before him and in his hand was Thomas Lanchester’s The Language of Birds.” p. 127.

Strange also finds comfort in his tea when he has some difficult issues that he calls “a wretched business from start to finish.” As he considered them, “he sipped his tea and ate a piece of toast.” (p. 441) Later when Strange is on the battlefield in Spain, he finds some Scots military men, and gives them some hard-boiled eggs he was carrying: “The Highlanders gave him some sweet, milky tea in return and soon they were chatting very companionably together.” (p. 473)

All this is in deep contrast to the foods that the fairy with thistledown hair has to offer his captives: “Here is a haunch of roasted wyvern and a pie of honeyed hummingbirds. Here is roasted salamander with a relish of pomegranates; here a delicate fricassee of the combs of cockatrices spiced with saffron and powdered rainbows and ornamented with gold stars! Now sit you down and eat!” (p. 500)

The famous military leader Wellington interacts with both magicians, especially with Jonathan Strange. He too enjoys English comforts even in the battlefield areas of Spain where the war is going on. His servants make sure to feed him properly: “As Wellington and his companions rode up to the castle they had just begun to lay it with plates of bread rolls, slices of Spanish ham, bowls of apricots and dishes of fresh butter. Wellington’s cook went off to fry fish, devil kidneys and make coffee.” (p. 347)

The appreciation of a typical English meal is shared by other English magicians, for example a man called Secundus, whose landlady brings him “a breakfast of two freshly grilled herrings, tea and fresh milk, and white bread and butter on a blue-and-white china plate.” (p. 26)

A woman in a weakened state begins to recover: “It was soon learnt that Miss Wintertowne had left her bed and, leaning upon Mr Norrell’s arm, had gone to her own sitting-room where she was now established in a chair by her fire and that she had asked for a cup of tea.” (p. 96)

Aromas and Odors

Now I’ve indulged myself by describing the way the author uses food and tea to create an atmosphere around the characters and their unusual lives. I should get down to business and actually review the book, but that’s been done by lots of other people. So I’ll just keep telling you a few things I found amusing.

I also appreciated the use of aromas and odors in the novel, especially the unpleasant aroma associated with an elderly woman whose cats create a rather potent situation (but I can’t say too much because this is quite a big part of the plot). Or the aroma of land and sea: “Instantly the sea became more ethereal and dreamlike, and the wood became more solid. Soon the sea was scarcely more than a faint silver shimmer among the dark trees and a salty tang mingling with the usual scents of a night-time wood.” (p. 667)

Here is a passage that describes the relief felt when a very dark magic spell is lifted from a city:

“There was a sudden rush of scents upon the air – scents of frost, winter earth and the nearby river. The colours and shapes of the park seemed simplified, as if England had been made afresh during the night. To the poor servants, who had been in some doubt whether they would ever see any thing but Dark and stars again, the sight was an exceedingly welcome one.” (p. 782)

More Magic

1871 Edition of The Princess
and the Goblin

Evidently, I enjoy books about magic. I didn’t give this much thought, but my fellow blogger Deb at Readerbuzz listed some magical fiction she was reading and I realized how much I have always liked certain types of magic in books, such as the magic of Ursula LeGuin’s Earthsea. Erin Morgenstern’s Night Circus entertained me, as did Harry Potter. (Lev Grossman: not so much.)

In childhood, I enjoyed the Oz books (which Deb is reading this year). I was very fond of The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald. I also loved fairy tales such as those by Hans Christian Andersen. And who doesn’t love the fairies in A Midsummernight’s Dream?

Here are a few books from Deb’s list that I have enjoyed reading in the past.

• Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett 
• Babel by R. F. Kuang
• A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

For more of Deb’s choices, see her blog post: Magical Books I Loved that You Might Like to Read.

Review © 2024 mae sander

Shared with Deb’s Sunday Salon

At the Detroit Institute of Arts

On our recent visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) we began with a special exhibit
titled “The Art of Dining: Food Culture in the Islamic World.”

Many amazing works of arts and crafts appeared in the exhibit, which borrowed items from many museums around the world.
I was impressed by the numerous images of birds and other animals on the many art works.
These bird-head jugs are from Iran (around 1200) and China (618-907)

One case featured musical instruments that would have been played during formal dinners.
This instrument was called a peacock, and was made in 19th century India.

This bowl decorated with birds and fish is from 9th-Century Egypt.

Another dish featuring bird images. From Iran in the late 1400s.

More birds on an elegant dish from Iran or Iraq (224-651)

I found this bird-headed spoon made of jade and precious stones amazing! (India, 17th C)

The focus of this exhibition was on the lives of the richest and most upper class people of several Islamic countries and on their possessions, not on the poor or the middle-class. The emphasis was on the art of tableware and presentation, not on the food. However, the food for one banquet was described with recipes for several of the dishes that would have been served (link to recipe page). See the DIA website for more images of the artifacts. 

The Great Hall

The tile work in the main part of the museum is fascinating. The tile was made by Pewabic Pottery, a local studio that has been creating art tile since 1903. This is a small section of the floor.

The entrance to the Great Hall where the Diego Rivera Murals are located.

We always visit the famous Detroit Industry Murals by Diego Rivera; I often show photos of them.

Ofrendas for the Day of the Dead

“The 11th installment of Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos 
features 13 ofrendas, or offerings, by local artists and community members”

 

We looked at several of this year’s offerings during our visit to the museum.

Another Day of the Dead Image

A Day-of-the-Dead Cake from this week’s Great British Baking Show.

DIA Puppet Collections

A few puppets from “A Christmas Carol” made by Lilian Owen Thompson.

The DIA has a world-class collection of over 1,000 puppets with state-of-the art storage for them. It also owns many props, backdrops, puppet stages, and puppet heads. Unfortunately, the museum has only one case for puppet display in a hallway near the coffee shop. Each time we visit, we check this out, as the puppets on display are changed very frequently. 

This month, several women puppeteers and puppet-makers are featured. The puppets in the case above are the work of Lilian Owen Thompson, “one of the most innovative puppet makers of the 1920s. She was skilled in sculpting, carving, sewing, and painting, and she used many other methods depending on the character. Thompson was also an engineer in puppet mechanics. A puppet's movements can appear haphazard if it's not created thoughtfully. Thompson attached each string and constructed each joint so that a marionette's gestures expressed its personality-without getting tangled up, of course.” (Quote from the documentation in the case.)

  

Blog post and original photos © 2024 mae sander

October Kitchen Post

In My Kitchen in October, 2024

Happy Halloween! We’ve viewed a remarkable number of Halloween decorations this month, and will look forward to the Trick-or-Treaters tonight. The weather has been wonderful, prolonging the season for farmers’ market produce and for the herbs in our garden — though the last few nights have been a bit hard on some of the more delicate ones.

The basil went to seed a few weeks ago, but we’ve used all the herbs this month in delicious ways.

First, a Few things that we cooked this month

Roast chicken — served with a bat spatula.

Late Summer Fruit Crumble

The crumble in my favorite baking dish, purchased in Paris long ago.

Last plum cake of 2024?

Little Lettuce Salads with Thousand-Island Dressing

Cottage cheese and veggies for lunch.

What’s New in Our Kitchen?

Maybe for the Trick-or-Treaters. Maybe for me.

Yes, this device really works. Len installed it on the underside of a shelf in the pantry.
The photo shows the box it came in.

Kitchens in Distant Places

Art Exhibit: “Food Culture in the Islamic World”

Last weekend we viewed a wonderful exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts titled “Food Culture in the Islamic World.” This exposition: “brings together 230 works from the Middle East, Egypt, Central and South Asia, and beyond to explore art and cuisine.” It’s open from September 22, 2024 - January 5, 2025. (Museum Website)

Here are two miniature paintings depicting kitchen scenes. I’ll be writing more about this very rich exposition.

A Kitchen in 16th-Century Persia

This is a kitchen scene from Shiraz, Persia in around 1570.

This scene is from a book called The story of rice and dumplings: “The person in yellow and red at left is the sufrachi, the hospitality manager of an elite household. Servants with trays line up behind him. The cook, wearing a white apron and wielding a red stick, has attracted the group's attention. Another servant peeks in from the doorway, perhaps a bit concerned about the holdup.” (Source: documentation in the exhibit)

Automated Wine Dispenser from Iraq, Syria, or Egypt, 1315

This is an ingenious device for serving wine: “This design for a wine-serving automaton combines mechanical engineering and entertainment. Devised by the scholar and inventor al-Jazari (1136-1206), a figure on a rolling plank emerges from a cabinet to offer a cup of wine and a napkin. After the drinker consumes the wine and wipes their mouth, they replace the cup and raise the figures arm. Wine from the reservoir at top drips into the cup to repeat the process.”

Antarctica: Two VERY Remote Kitchens

This compact kitchen is in a specially equipped tractor that will traverse Antarctica and go to the South Pole.
The researchers will live in the tractors as they spend months exploring this little-known continent.
From my friend Carla, who works at the research station in Antarctica. (source)

A view of lunch prep in the kitchen at McMurdo Research Station in Antarctica.
If you are intrigued by the life of researchers in this very remote place, see Carla’s blog:
Traversing the Space Between.

Happy Halloween!

This year’s Giant Pumpkins a few blocks from our house.
For pictures of this neighbor’s pumpkins from the past see this blog post.

Blog post © 2024 mae sander; photos as credited

 

Harris-Walz Rally, Burns Park, October 28, 2024

Yes, along with maybe 10,000 other Harris enthusiasts* we attended the Harris-Walz rally earlier this evening. We got in line at 4:00 at which point the line was around 7 blocks long, and it took us 2 hours to get into the rally, but it was worth the wait. Fortunately, we did get seats in the bleachers, and were not obliged to stand up for the duration.

*UPDATE: The New York Times estimate is that 21,000 people attended (source)

Several important Democratic officials spoke at the beginning of the rally.
This is Michigan Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist.

Speaker Tim Walz — Of course he spoke of the rights we will lose if the Fascists win the election.
He had the best line: “Both Democratic candidates are gun owners. The Republican candidate can’t pass the background check.”

Seeing and hearing Kamala Harris in person is really thrilling, even to a seasoned voter like me.

The crowd could see the speakers on large screens as well as at the podium.

MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT: Maggie Rogers

Before the main speakers, Maggie Rogers played several songs and gave a brief and emotional speech about
how important a Harris victory is to her and to all of us.

Security

This is a photo from yesterday of the Secret Service surveying the podium.
Before we entered the rally, there were scanners manned by Secret Service agents.

A sketchy idea of where we were.

Blog post and photos © 2024 mae sander