The Official Rodes Fishburne Hub

Canadian historian Michael Marrus gives a first-rate lecture about great trials. His first choice? Oscar Wilde’s great trial for “gross indecency” in 1895.

As the trial goes on we see Oscar make several major strategic mistakes, dazzle the court-room with his articulate defense of the love “that dare not speak its name,” and ultimately fail to flee the country–after being urged to do so by his friends–when he loses the case.

Why would he fail to flee the country? Even the court seems to half expect him to do so. Well because of a very important woman in his life. Can you guess who this woman might be?

His wife? No, that’s not quite right and certainly not very psychologically astute of you.

Who else would have that much power over the great free-thinking Oscar Wilde?

I’ll give you a hint, it rhymes with the word “SMOTHER”…

If you love this writer, and what writer doesn’t, you must listen to this podcast.

You can listen here, download here, and watch a video of the performance here.

Excerpt from the trial…

   Charles Gill (prosecuting attorney): What is “the love that dare not speak its name?”

   Wilde: “The love that dare not speak its name” in this century is such a great affection of an elder for a younger man as there was between David and Jonathan, such as Plato made the very basis of his philosophy, and such as you find in the sonnets of Michelangelo and Shakespeare. It is that deep spiritual affection that is as pure as it is perfect. It dictates and pervades great works of art, like those of Shakespeare and Michelangelo, and those two letters of mine, such as they are. It is in this century misunderstood, so much misunderstood that it may be described as “the love that dare not speak its name,” and on that account of it I am placed where I am now. It is beautiful, it is fine, it is the noblest form of affection. There is nothing unnatural about it. It is intellectual, and it repeatedly exists between an older and a younger man, when the older man has intellect, and the younger man has all the joy, hope and glamour of life before him. That it should be so, the world does not understand. The world mocks at it, and sometimes puts one in the pillory for it.”

Other stories caught your eye? Send ‘em or tweet @rodesfishburne

Here’s an synthesis of interesting articles about publishing and writing from the last couple of weeks…

Our friends at IPTIAM take a look at the economics behind the iPad and Apple’s forthcoming electronic bookstore.

Which brings up the question “If a book sells for $14.99 on Ipad, how much does an author get of that?”

a) $10.99

b) $4.99

c) $.99 cents and a free mousepad

d) none of the above

The answer might surprise you...

The writer Dani Shapiro explores some of the themes swirling around every writer’s head these days, i.e. how long is this state of transition in the publishing industry everybody is talking about going to last?

Her essay hints at what literary agents around NYC have been whispering for the past year: in the future a lot fewer people are going to self-identify as writers?

“But in the last several years, I’ve watched friends and colleagues suddenly find themselves without publishers after having brought out many books. Writers now use words like “track” and “mid-list” and “brand” and “platform.” They tweet and blog and make Facebook friends in the time they used to spend writing. Authors who stumble can find themselves quickly in dire straits. How, under these conditions, can a writer take the risks required to create something original and resonant and true?”

Other stories caught your eye? Send ‘em or tweet @rodesfishburne

Ever wonder what kind of secret memos the President of the U.S. gets to read? What do his advisors tell him the future’s going to look like?

If anybody on the planet has access to a semi-operational crystal ball, it must be him, right?

Here’s a recently declassified report from the Chairman of the National Intelligence Council that was presented to President Obama in January.

It’s called, “Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World” and it takes a look at how key global trends might develop over the next 15 years to influence world events. The key word is of course, “might” as anybody writing a report predicting 15 years in the future wants a little wiggle room.

But make no mistake, this report is worth reading.

Why?

Two reasons: in a world as uncertain as ours, you should read as much well-reasoned material as you can get your hands on.

And two, how many times do you get to say, “I read the secret memo the President read?”

Want to know the winners and Losers in a Post-Petroleum World?

Or what about what the Technological Breakthroughs will be by 2025?

You can download a free .pdf of this report here.

I’m delighted to be speaking at the Carmel Authors & Ideas Festival (September 25-27th), and in Deadwood, at the South Dakota Festival of Books on October 3rd. (I’ll also be signing books at 4 p.m. on Friday and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.)

The official schedule is at http://www.sdbookfestival.com

You can find information about tickets on the web sites, or I can try to sneak you in (you must bring your own disguise however!)

2:00 – 2:45 PM on Saturday, Oct. 3

FICTION – Silverado Clubhouse, “What Novelists Learn from the Dakotas,” Rodes Fishburne