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| A Woman's Directory For Travel and Life. WAVE Journey is your one stop online resource for women oriented businesses and services around the world. WAVE Journey is for every woman to enjoy. If you love to travel, cook, read or revel in outdoor activities this website is for you. If you are looking to connect with other like-minded women or if you are interested in finding businesses or services that cater to women, WAVE Journey is your number one online resource. |
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For Thrills in Key West: Gore Vidal and the son of convicted atomic
spies at the Literary Seminar, and jet skis on the waves
~ continued
Article & photos by Lucy Komisar
spies at the Literary Seminar, and jet skis on the waves
~ continued
Article & photos by Lucy Komisar
Why do writers of historical fiction choose certain themes? Vidal's Julian is about the nephew
of the Emperor Constantine who converted Rome to Christianity. When Julian came to
power, he tried to stop monotheism, but ruled too briefly to have an impact. The book's
character Libanius disdains "that pernicious Christian doctrine which asserts that a
sprinkling of water (and a small donation) will wash away sin, again and again and again."
Vidal explained, "I don’t like monotheism. It was a much better world in third, four, fifth
centuries. When monotheism grabbed us by the throat, only one god, one king, one factory,
one wage for all, wow the damage that was done from that moment on is still with us. Out
of that came all the wars: there can only be one leader of the world, one religion." He said,
"In the war of the Roundheads, people went into the war shouting 'Kill for Jesus'."
of the Emperor Constantine who converted Rome to Christianity. When Julian came to
power, he tried to stop monotheism, but ruled too briefly to have an impact. The book's
character Libanius disdains "that pernicious Christian doctrine which asserts that a
sprinkling of water (and a small donation) will wash away sin, again and again and again."
Vidal explained, "I don’t like monotheism. It was a much better world in third, four, fifth
centuries. When monotheism grabbed us by the throat, only one god, one king, one factory,
one wage for all, wow the damage that was done from that moment on is still with us. Out
of that came all the wars: there can only be one leader of the world, one religion." He said,
"In the war of the Roundheads, people went into the war shouting 'Kill for Jesus'."
What happens when subjects of a historical novel
critique the author? The seminar hosted a
riveting event by inviting Michael Meeropol and
his daughter Ivy to a panel. Michael is the son of
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, convicted as Soviet
spies and executed in 1953. Their story is
disguised in novelist E.L. Doctorow's "The Book of
Daniel." People were fascinated and hung around
after the talk to chat.
critique the author? The seminar hosted a
riveting event by inviting Michael Meeropol and
his daughter Ivy to a panel. Michael is the son of
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, convicted as Soviet
spies and executed in 1953. Their story is
disguised in novelist E.L. Doctorow's "The Book of
Daniel." People were fascinated and hung around
after the talk to chat.
Michael found some redemptive aspects in the book. He noted that, "It was a time of the
war against fascism," and said, "There is a view out there that it wasn’t a bad thing to
help the Russians. Ed Doctorow decided in the novel to put that view out there. It's one of
the reasons I love the novel despite the fact there are real liberties taken with the
historical record, some of which offended a lot of people."
Arguing about the case itself, he said, "The biggest mistake was to accept major flaw that
David Greenglass, by drawing some graphics, could give away then major secrets of the
atom bomb." Greenglass was part of the plot, was arrested by the FBI, and informed on
his sister Ethel and her husband.
Meeropol pointed out, "Treason is making war on the United States, giving aid and comfort
to your enemies. They were convicted of aiding an ally in wartime. Ed Doctorow gets it
right." However, he noted, "He said he did no research. He said it’s a work of imagination."
war against fascism," and said, "There is a view out there that it wasn’t a bad thing to
help the Russians. Ed Doctorow decided in the novel to put that view out there. It's one of
the reasons I love the novel despite the fact there are real liberties taken with the
historical record, some of which offended a lot of people."
Arguing about the case itself, he said, "The biggest mistake was to accept major flaw that
David Greenglass, by drawing some graphics, could give away then major secrets of the
atom bomb." Greenglass was part of the plot, was arrested by the FBI, and informed on
his sister Ethel and her husband.
Meeropol pointed out, "Treason is making war on the United States, giving aid and comfort
to your enemies. They were convicted of aiding an ally in wartime. Ed Doctorow gets it
right." However, he noted, "He said he did no research. He said it’s a work of imagination."
One of Vidal's stories might be a coda to the
Rosenberg case. Citing "Family of Secret" by Russ
Baker, he said, "Prescott Bush [George W.'s
grandfather] was dealing with the Nazis when he was
still in the Senate from Connecticut. He got a warning
from President Roosevelt who used two words,
'treason' and the other was even darker. And Prescott
Bush vanished into the bush for a time." But he wasn't
tried for treason.
I'd see Vidal again at the closing champagne gala at
the old Customs House which is now the Key West
Museum of Art and History. I hoped he liked the drinks
there! It was ironic to see him perched under a sign
for an exhibit about American icons.
Rosenberg case. Citing "Family of Secret" by Russ
Baker, he said, "Prescott Bush [George W.'s
grandfather] was dealing with the Nazis when he was
still in the Senate from Connecticut. He got a warning
from President Roosevelt who used two words,
'treason' and the other was even darker. And Prescott
Bush vanished into the bush for a time." But he wasn't
tried for treason.
I'd see Vidal again at the closing champagne gala at
the old Customs House which is now the Key West
Museum of Art and History. I hoped he liked the drinks
there! It was ironic to see him perched under a sign
for an exhibit about American icons.
The themes focused on were fictionalizing of political history (that's one for Vidal!), the
relation of fiction to fact in historical fiction, transforming the past into a story that lives in
the present, and history as a path to truth. Others of the more than three dozen authors
at the conference were Peter Matthiessen, Russell Banks, Joyce Carol Oats and William
Kennedy. After all that heavy stuff, I was happy to throw it all to the winds. Literally. A
friend and I joined a small group from Barefoot Billy's going out on jet skis.
relation of fiction to fact in historical fiction, transforming the past into a story that lives in
the present, and history as a path to truth. Others of the more than three dozen authors
at the conference were Peter Matthiessen, Russell Banks, Joyce Carol Oats and William
Kennedy. After all that heavy stuff, I was happy to throw it all to the winds. Literally. A
friend and I joined a small group from Barefoot Billy's going out on jet skis.
For an hour and a half, we sped around Key West and Stock Island to the North, passing
the Naval station, and maneuvering through boat channels on a Yamaha 3-seater. (I
don't recommend more than two.) Woosh and slam and smack and whap over the waves,
first the Bay and then the Atlantic. It was more an athletic sport than a visual tour. We
saw the shore, but at a distance and speed.
The front-runners were going 60 mph. I was comfortable at 30, though I got up to 40 and
even 50. Bouncing over the waves felt like riding a bronco! You need a good back!
the Naval station, and maneuvering through boat channels on a Yamaha 3-seater. (I
don't recommend more than two.) Woosh and slam and smack and whap over the waves,
first the Bay and then the Atlantic. It was more an athletic sport than a visual tour. We
saw the shore, but at a distance and speed.
The front-runners were going 60 mph. I was comfortable at 30, though I got up to 40 and
even 50. Bouncing over the waves felt like riding a bronco! You need a good back!
