history
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CEO, China: The Rise of Xi Jinping – Thoughts & Review, Part 2
As president of China, Xi Jinping presides over 18% of the world’s population, and he is set to do so for life. How did Xi rise to such prominence, and what can we learn from his life that will help us understand his future? Kerry Brown’s book, CEO, China, offers some clues as to the Continue reading
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Vice, Virtue, and Heroism in Eugene Onegin – Episode 26
For lovers of Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre, Eugene Onegin takes us back to Imperial Russia, where young Tatyana Larina falls for her brooding, Byronic neighbor. More than a romance, Alexander Pushkin’s epic poem is a classic of Russian literature and history, as well as a glimpse into the 19th-century dueling culture which proved Continue reading
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CEO, China: The Rise of Xi Jinping – Thoughts & Review, Part 1
“What do you know about the man who runs China?” the blurb demanded. “Nothing,” I blinked. Well, basically nothing. I couldn’t believe it…I knew basically nothing about Xi Jinping, one of the most powerful leaders in the world today. (I also have some Chinese heritage, which makes it even more embarrassing.) Xi, in fact, may Continue reading
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Doctors, Murderers: Shūsaku Endō’s The Sea and Poison – Episode 24
In The Sea and Poison, we find one Japanese author’s perspective on the horrific human experimentation carried out by Unit 731 “doctors” in World War II. A small addendum to my comment in this episode, that there were “no Nuremberg trials, to speak of.” The Soviets actually staged their own show trials for some of Continue reading
About Me
Hi, I’m Marian—I talk about classics, history, and other books on this blog, as well as on YouTube.
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Recent Posts
- What I’m Reading – Morning Coffee Edition
- Oddly Specific Things I Love in Books (and a Few Movies)
- The Tenant of Wildfell Hall – A Long Overdue Review
- My Favorite Films and Music of 2025
- Ten Books I’d Like to Read (and Possibly Own)
Classics Considered 