Chronicle: Milton, Harris, Trumbo, Nerd

According to this website, December 9 is the birthday of Joel Chandler Harris (creator of Uncle Remus, now sadly verboten un-PC teller of African-American folktales), Dalton Trumbo (author of JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN and famously McCarthy blacklisted screenwriter) and good ol' John Milton (you know, that poem about heaven and stuff?)

It also happens to be the birthday of one small NYC bookseller. Twenty-eight somehow feels like a much more rounded, mature age than 27 -- I guess it's all those even divisors. I'm way older than Milton was when he wrote that birthday sonnet (23), but younger than Trumbo when he wrote JOHNNY (34). Anyway, I'm celebrating very sophisticatedly with fancy dinner and an art film with the ALP, and later this week having some folks over for some decidedly immature Christmas cookie decorating. This week will also see the venerable 31st birthday of the ALP, who shares his natal anniversary with John Greenleaf Whittier and Ford Madox Ford.

Thanks to my sympathetic boss, I'm leaving work early to enjoy the (cold) Christmassy delights of the city. Enjoy the day for me (and find your own literary birthday counterparts -- it's way too fun.)

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hap Birth, BN! Sharing a birthday with Milton is impressive. Definitely lead with that in the future.
11:08 PM
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