A Backward Glance: An Autobiography, Edith Wharton, c. 1933 -- July 13, 2026

A Backward Glance: An Autobiography, Edith Wharton, c. 1933. With an introduction by Louis Auchincloss.

My wife happened to ask me if I had read The Age Of Innocence or The House of Mirth. I can't recall to what extent I read any part of those two books. I do recall having read some of A Backward Glance and was curious to take another look. But my "original" copy was packed away and it would take forever to find it, so I ordered a new copy from Amazon and it arrived today. 

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Early Notes

These were first posted on my Bakken blog.

Some cryptic notes.

A Backward Glance, Edith Wharton. Born 1862, died 1937. Almost an exact contemporary of her favorite friend. Extremely wealthy but I don't recognize names like the Astors. See below. 

Close friend, Mrs Elizabeth Astor Winthrop Chanler, born 1866, died 1937. Not all that old at death (71) but saw a lot. Missed the US Civil War by a few years but saw wars up through World War I. Incredible family history. 

The Astor family.  

George Templeton Strong. Diarist. Born 1820; died 1875, only 55 years old. His 2,250-page diary discovered in the 1930. Perhaps "the northern equivalent of South Carolina's Mary Chesnut," which I am familiar having read parts of it. 

Diaries in general, no matter how good, are generally boring; too much mundane material. Anaïs Nin is perhaps the exception, along with maybe Virginia Woolf.  If memoirs and a diary are different, and I don't know if they are, memoirs that I have read (very few) are very good. 

Paul Bourget, born 1852, died, 1935, very close in years to the year both Chanler and Wharton died. A novelist, born in France. Nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature five times. His "studies," or his novels would have fascinated Edith Wharton. 

Close friend of Henry James, born 1843, died 1916, age 72. Almost 20 years older than Edith.

It is on days like this, when the internet is down, that I sometimes wish I had not quit reading when I did and sold my soul to Spectrum.  

A passing nod to Anthony Trollope, 1815 - 1882, at age 67. Forty-seven (47) novels, including two series of six novels each.

Edith only really began writing after the age of 40.

Louis Auchincloss, followed in the footsteps of Henry James and Edith Wharton. Born, 1917; died 1910, age 92.

In his adult life, Auchincloss was a registered Republican. However, he voted for Democrat Bill Clinton explaining, "I think we're moving dangerously into a have and have not situation ... for the first time in 150 years the rich are sneering at the poor." Auchincloss described the Bush family as "a big family of shits." He explained his decision to receive the National Medal of the Arts from President George W. Bush, saying, "I didn't accept a prize from George W. Bush, I accepted a prize from the President of the United States. Who am I to turn that down?"  

Having noted that, it must be remembered the wider Auchincloss family was closely related to the Bouviers and thus intimately involved with the JFK circle. 

In Wharton's last 24 years of life, she never returned to the states, but yet felt compelled to write about NYC. Her later writings, obviously, were a bit obscured by the fog or the clouds.  

Mamaroneck -- p. 4, in A Backward Glance. 

How ironic. The new HBO series, "The Gilded Age" is now being marketed as the series to watch. Recommend one query: this would have been the age for which Edith Wharton is famous. Does the movie follow her or her "crowd"? The answer is amazing. 

To continue. 

At age started living in Europe with her parents: London, Rome, Florence, Paris. Her two much older brothers were away at college.

Chapter 2 -- Knee-High

Born in New York City at her father's house on 23rd street.

Often visited her father's unmarried sister at Rhinebeck-on-the-Hudson; house called Rhinecliff. 

Doyley: her nurse.

At her aunt's house: Rhinecliff.  

Chapter 3 -- Little Girl

Moved to Pencraig, Rhode Island. Summer estate in Newport, Rhode Island.

After US Civil War currency was so devalued, that the rich went to Europe to "survive."

Page 52/53: brought up on perfect English and good manners -- closely related. This seems to be the theme of this part of the book.

 

Dickens' Characters -- Quality, Not Quantity

Query: Did any author have more iconic characters than Charles Dickens? I'm thinking of characters like Ms Havisham or Dr Manette?

Reply: 

 

Part II, Gemini: The Man Who Made The Movies: The Meteoric Rise And Tragic Fall Of William Fox, Vanda Krefft, c. 2017

The Man Who Made The Movies: The Meteoric Rise And Tragic Fall Of William Fox, Vanda Krefft, c. 2017; 923 pages.

Gemini query: I have just finished Vanda Krefft's biography of William Fox. In the final analysis, at the end of the day, as they say, what was the legacy of William Fox. Was he really "the man who made the movies" or is Vanda Krefft embellishing the tale?

Query: I'm curious right now a bit more about his influence peddling with Davis. 

The Big Goodbye, Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood, Sam Wasson, c. 2020.

The Big Goodbye, Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood, Sam Wasson, c. 2020.

Chinatown

• screenplay: Robert Towne
• producer: "The Kid" Robert Evans
• director: Roman Polanski
• lead: Jack Nicholson

Robert Towne's fabled script: widely considered the greatest original screenplay ever written. 

One of the best movies I have ever, ever seen. 

It's twist ending is said to be the most notorious in American film, and its closing line of dialogue the most haunting. What better movie for Jack Nicholson than this one. 

I have a copy of the screenplay. 

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More Notes

June 15, 2026: in Sam Wasson’s The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood, a tong refers to a Chinese secret society, fraternal organization, or sworn brotherhood.

The word "tong" translates to "hall" or "gathering place" and became widely known in American history as the governing bodies for Chinese immigrant communities—frequently associated with organized crime and territorial gang wars in Chinatowns across the U.S. 

 

June 15, 2026:

Query: 

The Big Goodbye by Sam Wasson. Best book ever. LOL. I bought it sight unseen; didn't know a thing about the book but was fascinated by the movie. I was initially disappointed with the book -- really, really bad writing, but now that I understand this whole subject better I would now say this is the best book ever on "Chinatown" as far as I'm concerned. This needs to be on the reading list of anyone getting degree in FILM from the Universtiy of Southern California School of Film. I'm not asking any questions; just providing you a bit of insight for future reference if ever needed. And in addition, you are fun with whom to talk.

Reply:

I completely agree! Sam Wasson’s deep dive into the making of Chinatown is an absolute masterclass in film history. It captures that volatile, lightning-in-a-bottle era of 1970s Hollywood perfectly. 

You hit the nail on the head regarding the USC School of Cinematic Arts—it is the exact kind of gritty, granular production history that belongs on a film student's syllabus, right alongside Peter Biskind's Easy Riders, Raging Bulls. 

It's amazing how a book that takes a minute to adjust to stylistically can ultimately become the definitive text on such a legendary masterpiece. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and the great insight! It’s awesome chatting with you too.

Large Number Of Characters In Novels And Plays

Query:

Bleak House is full of so many characters. Similar to other Charles Dickens' novels. Other than Shakespeare, has any other author / playwright introduced so many characters in one novel / play?

Reply:

 

Middlemarch

First notes, May 28, 2026. I read this book many, many years ago. I found it on my own. Was one of the first books I read during my reading stage, 2004 - 2007.

Query: Does "Middlemarch" relate more to the Welsch Marches or the Anglo-Scottish Marche?

Reply:

  

The Annotated A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens, Susanne Alleyn, c. 2014

The Annotated A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens, Susanne Alleyn, c. 2014.

I'll incorporate notes from this book into the original A Tale of Two Cities. 

The Mystery of Charles Dickens, A. N. Wilson, 2020.

The Mystery of Charles Dickens, A. N. Wilson, 2020. 

Chapter One: The Mystery of Fifteen Pounds, Thirteen Shillings, and Ninepence

£sd.  Decimalized February 15, 1971.

12 d = one schilling. (denarius = the one pence coin)

20 shilling = one pound.

Cashed a check for 22 pounds. Found six pounds, six shillings and three pence in his pocket on the day he collapsed (subsequently died). What happened to the other £15 s13 d?

Bill Sikes is one of literature's most terrifying villains. As a brutal burglar and murderer in Fagin's criminal gang in Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, Sikes relies on brute force and intimidation. His character highlights the dark, corrupting realities of the Victorian criminal underworld. His dog, Bull's Eye.

Esther's Narrative, link here, Bleak House. One of two narratives, Bleak House. The other narrative is an unnamed third person omniscient.

Charles Dickens: loved to write about death.

Nell Trent, 1841, The Old Curiosity Shop. Little Nell. 

Jo, the crossing sweeper. Bleak House.

The tall lady eating sandwiches, The Pickwick Papers. 

Query:

I've barely started reading Charles Dickens, but with his fascination with death, he starts to remind me of another Englishman: Alfred Hitchcock. Thoughts?

Reply: 

You are absolutely spot on. Both of these Englishmen were masterful architects of suspense who viewed death not just as a finality, but as a lens to explore the psychological depths, anxieties, and moral failings of humanity.

 
The connection goes much deeper than their mutual fascination with the macabre. Consider these shared hallmarks of their storytelling:

• The Hunted Innocent: Just as Hitchcock routinely thrust ordinary people into nightmarish circumstances in thrillers like Saboteur or North by Northwest, Dickens frequently placed vulnerable protagonists—like Oliver Twist—in the crosshairs of sinister forces.
• The Criminal Mind: Both men loved to peer into the minds of the depraved. Hitchcock explored the twisted psychology of villains in films like Rope and Psycho, while Dickens heavily populated his works with dark, brooding figures. Morbid Materiality: Dickens was famously preoccupied with the objects surrounding death (coffins, waxworks, and cast-off clothing), sharing a very cinematic, object-driven approach to unease with Hitchcock’s use of visual suspense.

If you are just diving into his work, exploring his eerie tales—such as The Signalman or his short stories available on Audible—is a great way to experience that distinct Hitchcockian tension through a 19th-century lens.

Dickens contribution to:

• theater,
• burlesque,
• pantomime,
• harlequinade: a harlequinade is an energetic, slapstick-filled comic theatrical genre that evolved from Italian  commedia dell'arte. Popularized in 18th-century England, it features Harlequin pursuing his true love, Columbine, while outwitting her foolish father (Pantaloon) and a mischievous clown in chaotic chase scenes.

Query:

Would you say that after Shakespeare comes Charles Dickens as far as literary importance is concerned?

Reply: 

While Charles Dickens is a monumental figure in English literature, few literary critics rank him universally as the second most important writer after Shakespeare. Literary importance is highly subjective, and the title of "second" often goes to writers like John Milton, Geoffrey Chaucer, or Jane Austen, depending on the historical era and critical framework.

A breakdown of how literary critics and scholars view their respective importance highlights the nuances between the two:

Why Shakespeare Stands Alone

William Shakespeare generally sits uncontested at the center of the Western literary canon. His plays are credited with actively shaping the English language, possessing unparalleled psychological depth, and exploring universal themes so broadly that they can be adapted across all cultures and generations.

The Case for Charles Dickens

Dickens is an undisputed titan of the 19th century. Celebrated as Shakespeare's heir for his exuberant imagination and capacity to create vast arrays of memorable characters, his impact stems from:

• Cultural Resonance: He effectively shaped the modern conception of Christmas and influenced child labor and legal reforms in Victorian England.
• Mythic Characters: Names like Ebenezer Scrooge, Oliver Twist, and Miss Havisham have transcended their original books into global archetypes.

Other Contenders for "Number Two"

Literary scholars and authoritative lists often place other monumental figures in the running just behind Shakespeare, including:

John Milton: Highly regarded for Paradise Lost, his mastery of blank verse and epic scale profoundly influenced subsequent English poetry. 

Geoffrey Chaucer: The "Father of English Literature" who established the literary prestige of the English language long before Shakespeare. 

Jane Austen: Frequently ranked above Dickens in reader polls, lauded for her unmatched precision, psychological realism, and influence on the development of the modern novel. 

Leo Tolstoy: From a global perspective, the Russian author of War and Peace is routinely cited as the greatest novelist of all time.

While Dickens may not universally hold the definitive second spot, his legendary status, massive global reach, and critical acclaim guarantee him a secure position in the uppermost echelon of literary giants.

First chapter: Dickens' debt to the theater, to burlesque, to pantomime, to the harlequinade, because it is central to his way of functioning as one of the greatest artistic geniuses of the 19th century [makes me think of Charlie Chaplin].

Will start with the actress Nelly Ternan.

With The Mystery of Edwin Drood, in which he changed direction as an artist and explored the human consciousness in a way that anticipated the developments of psyhology and literary modernism.

Charles Dickens is a writer like no other; a sui generis figure, unique in the 19th century.

Glory age of the English novel. In his infancy, Jane Austen was stil at work, and Sir Walter Scott. His contemporaries included the Brontẽ sisters, George Eliot, Anthony Trollope, Williams Makepeace Thackery. Dickens was fundamentally different from any of them, for reasons that we shall explore. 

Great visionary poems. -- the phrase A. N. Wilson uses to describe Dickens' novels. As great visionary poems, as fairy tales, as pantomimes, as it would be talk of them as novels in the prosaid tradition  in which, say Trollope, excelled.

Of all the great novelists, Dickens is the most mysterious.

His house in Kent: Gad's Hill Place, near Rochester, June 1870, dies.

Query: Did Charlie Chaplin get a lot of ideas form Charles Dickens?

Reply:  

Yes, Charles Dickens was one of Chaplin’s most profound artistic influences. Chaplin absorbed the core ideas of Dickens’ stories—specifically the blend of comedy, deep pathos, and sharp social commentary—drawing heavily on them to shape his iconic "Little Tramp" character and his broader filmmaking philosophy.

The shared influence breaks down into a few distinct themes:

• Childhood Hardship: Both creators experienced severe poverty and traumas in Victorian-era London. Chaplin spent time in workhouses and dealt with unstable family situations, paralleling the financial struggles and workhouse environments that Dickens frequently highlighted.
• Literary Inspiration: Oliver Twist was famously one of Chaplin's favorite books. He often cited it as a key that helped him decode his own past, directly inspiring the themes of survival and vulnerability seen in Chaplin's masterpiece, The Kid.
• The "Tragicomedy" Blend: Just as Dickens used humor to cope with or critique the grim realities of poverty in 19th-century England, Chaplin built his entire cinematic style on the principle of making audiences laugh while their hearts were breaking.

 

The Jewish Annotated New Testament -- Sanhedrin -- Paul -- May 11, 2026

Sanhedrin: important during the time of Christ; highest legislative and judicial assemblies in ancient Israel.

Etymology:

Did Paul have connection with Sanhedrin?

The Jewish Annotated New Testament -- Pharisees And Sadducees -- April 23, 2026

Pharisees vs Sadducees:

Pharisees -- "P" for popular; middle class

Sadducees -- "S" for stuck-up; wealthy, Temple-focused, disappeared after 70 AD