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Post by hchoops on Aug 11, 2020 13:55:51 GMT -5
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Post by newfieguy74 on Aug 11, 2020 15:08:47 GMT -5
I was so happy to read this article. Jones is one of the greatest American living writers. It is true that he does not churn out a great volume of work, and it is also true that he appears to be shy and self-effacing, but there is no denying his brilliance. The Known World is one of the best novels I have ever read. It is really stunning. I've only read a few of his short stories, but intend to read them all. I also recently read his Introduction to Baldwin's Notes of a Native Son (in which he mentions HC and living in Beaven). As I recall, one of his teachers/mentors at HC was Maurice Geracht (I was also lucky enough to take some of his classes), who, amazingly, just retired.
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Post by hchoops on Aug 15, 2020 9:48:43 GMT -5
This NYT article is on the cover of this week’s Book Review, a prestigious honor. Possibly a first for an HC alum. Unless Michael Harrington’s The Other America also made it.
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Post by newfieguy74 on Aug 15, 2020 13:51:10 GMT -5
It's great that an HC alum is, arguably, America's greatest living writer, certainly among the very top tier.
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Post by Xmassader on Aug 15, 2020 20:43:47 GMT -5
newfieguy74 I was in Professor Geracht’s first class in ‘66-‘67. The first semester focused on the “bildungsroman” or education novel (Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Look Homeward Angel, etc.). He was an excellent prof in his rookie year and apparently got better as the years went by. I too was surprised that he just retired. Probably one of the few profs that taught when I was at HC and has taught some of the current students.
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Post by newfieguy74 on Aug 16, 2020 12:26:13 GMT -5
Teaching at HC from 1966 to 2020 is an extraordinary run. I wonder if anyone has ever taught at HC longer. Interestingly, Geracht's native tongue was French. English was his second language, and he received a Ph.D. from Wisconsin and had an amazing career in academia. His love of teaching came through, although as a freshman in 1970 in a small tutorial with sophomores I was somewhat intimidated.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Aug 16, 2020 13:34:06 GMT -5
Did he also start the Junior Year Abroad program? I believe he was in charge of the program when my daughter was at HC and spent junior year in Spain
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Post by newfieguy74 on Aug 16, 2020 13:58:06 GMT -5
You're correct. He started the Junior Year Abroad Program and directed it for many years. One of his goals was to make sure a student's time abroad had some academic rigor and that it was not just a chance to travel around aimlessly. BTW, Geracht was also awarded a knighthood by the French government. He is also Jewish and managed to survive living in German occupied France when he was young. He's just an extraordinary man.
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Post by hchoops on Aug 16, 2020 15:03:00 GMT -5
My daughter’s junior year in Ireland was a wonderful experience
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Post by sader1970 on Aug 16, 2020 15:20:47 GMT -5
As for length of service at Holy Cross, my money would be on either William ("B+") McCann who taught at least from 1940-41 to well past my graduation in 1970. Or, Fr. Busam already discussed, who my uncle ('43) had and was there in my day. Professor Branfon in the history department taught both me and my son. My memories of Maurice Geracht are much less favorable than the rest of you apparently. I took "Studies in the Novel" first semester sophomore year as I thought it'd be a great course and, if memory serves, the first elective that I could take. If memory still serves, the course included reading 13 novels in one semester, the shortest of which was 500+ pages and included among others, Anna Karenina, A Tale of Two Cities and War and Peace (apparently in the days when authors were paid by the word). A paper was required on each novel. Loving to read but not being a speed reader, I literally put more time into that one course than all the time on the other 4 courses that semester combined. And, for icing on the cake, I got the lowest grade that semester in that course - a "C" (thanks, Maurice!! ). And, I would have been semi-fine with that but what really chapped me off was I literally read every word of every novel and a junior in the class I found out later was more street smart than I and never read one of the actual novels but only the Cliff notes and got a "B." I may not have done well in the course but I could honestly say I "was well read."
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Post by hchoops on Aug 16, 2020 16:16:28 GMT -5
How was Geracht’s teaching ?
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Post by Crucis#1 on Aug 16, 2020 17:42:32 GMT -5
If you had read both the actual novels and the cliff notes, you would have received an “A”. 😂🤣
Wonder if kids these days use Cliff Notes? Are they still published?
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Post by sader1970 on Aug 17, 2020 5:35:56 GMT -5
In actuality, as more than adequately demonstrated here on Crossports, it was much more likely the esteemed professor simply didn't think my papers were up to his writing standards. While some of those novels were obviously classics and enjoyable (i.e. Tom Jones), many were a true slog. Or, maybe he just wanted to establish what a "Gentleman's C" looked like for me. Wouldn't he be surprised to know I am the 1970 Class "scribe?"
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Post by rgs318 on Aug 17, 2020 6:36:38 GMT -5
If you had read both the actual novels and the cliff notes, you would have received an “A”. 😂🤣Wonder if kids these days use Cliff Notes? Are they still published? I always had a preference for Monarch Notes. I am not sure I. ever would have understood the first third of Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom without them. PS: When in a hurry...never forget the really quick Master Plots with one page summaries of a book's plot and characters...usually found under the librarian's desk (in high school) or reserved for faculty use only.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Aug 17, 2020 8:30:54 GMT -5
If you had read both the actual novels and the cliff notes, you would have received an “A”. 😂🤣Wonder if kids these days use Cliff Notes? Are they still published? I always had a preference for Monarch Notes. I am not sure I. ever would have understood the first third of Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom without them. PS: When in a hurry...never forget the really quick Master Plots with one page summaries of a book's plot and characters...usually found under the librarian's desk (in high school) or reserved for faculty use only. I remember recommending Master Plots when one of our star ballplayers mentioned something about being behind on a paper due in short order. He came back from the library to thank me and showed me the page that he had torn our of the book....
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Post by rgs318 on Aug 17, 2020 10:00:29 GMT -5
Ouch.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Aug 17, 2020 10:07:27 GMT -5
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Post by rgs318 on Aug 17, 2020 10:12:25 GMT -5
BTW: Monarch Notes are still available with 239 books in the series.
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Post by hchoops on Aug 17, 2020 11:52:01 GMT -5
Edward probably stopped reading this thread
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Post by rgs318 on Aug 17, 2020 13:52:06 GMT -5
The Known World is available for three week loan through Hoopla. It is available both as an audio book and a read-it-yourself edition. (Hoopla membership is free through many local libraries.)
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Post by newfieguy74 on Aug 17, 2020 14:22:40 GMT -5
Edward probably stopped reading this thread Maybe he'll resume reading if we all promise not to resort to Cliff Notes or Monarch Notes for The Known World. The mentions of Cliff Notes and Monarch Notes is causing coronary distress in the English Dept.
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Post by sader1970 on Aug 17, 2020 15:59:48 GMT -5
Can only speak for myself: "Uninspiring." If he gave any great insights into the novels, I don't recall any. But that was 50+ years ago.
Others here have already opined a contrary view. Not saying I am right and they are wrong.
Apparently I had him after he had 2 semesters of teaching under his belt at HC. Hardly "experienced." Maybe had I taken one of his courses as a senior, I would have had a different opinion (and grade?!)
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Post by newfieguy74 on Aug 17, 2020 16:29:42 GMT -5
His classes weren't easy, that's for sure. As noted above, the amount of reading was significant. I would describe his classes as intellectually rigorous. He was a good and decent man, but perhaps a bit serious. But he was generous with his time and clearly loved teaching. I was an English major, and he was just one of the many talented people in the department at the time (Tom Lawler, Ed Callahan, etc.). I also took a few classes with Stephen Teichgraeber, who didn't get tenure but who I thought was a very good teacher.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Aug 17, 2020 18:31:11 GMT -5
Dr. B. Eugene McCarthy was a mentor to Ed, and encouraged his writings, during his time at HC and after graduation. He recognized early his talent beyond that as just a college student stopping by to take a course or two. I remember having a conversation with Dr. McCarthy during the 1990’s about Ed’s promising career. This was many years before he won the Pulitzer and the McArthur awards. For those who do not remember Dr. McCarthy, here is an article from Holy Cross Magazine. www.holycross.edu/departments/publicaffairs/hcm/summer01/features/sum01_feat13.html
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Post by Crucis#1 on Aug 17, 2020 18:50:17 GMT -5
The 2018 Fall Issue of the Holy Cross Magazine has an article about Dr. Geracht, Ed Jones mentions his association with Dr. Geracht. Turn to page 41 and 42. issuu.com/holycross/docs/2018_04fall
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