The Inspiratorium » Writing

Book Review: Confessions of a Pagan Nun

David Morton — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:49:36 +0000

The cover of Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley is arresting for someone like me — a romantic who is entranced by the mystery and ideals of early monastic life. It shows a clochan, a beehive-shaped rock hut set beside a small stream and barren, rocky hills in the distance. Built of dry [...] Related posts:

Book Review:
The Saint and the Fasting Girl

Discovering Dante’s Inferno

David Morton — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:30:13 +0000

It’s satisfying, isn’t it, when a book you read leads the way to others — where one opens your eyes to another topic, another author or another passion and off you go. I’m happy to report that the joy of discovery is still alive and well in the mind of this 50-plus reader. A few [...] Related posts:

Book Review:The Saint and the Fasting Girl

David Morton — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:04:48 +0000

It was a real honour to be asked by Anna Richenda, recently, if I would review her new self-published novel, The Saint and the Fasting Girl. As a fan of HistoryFish.net her expansive website devoted to medieval religious topics, I had been reading progress reports in her blog about the book’s publication for some time. [...] Related posts:

Those Were The Days: Finding ourselves in the Middle Ages

David Morton — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:50:57 +0000

As is so often the case, a recent New Yorker cartoon took a medieval story to heart and added a 21st century twist to great comic effect. In this case, Rapunzel* has let down her hair, as the fairy tale goes, but she has inadvertently foiled the prince’s attempt to climb her prison tower using [...] Related posts:

A Fresh Take on the Middle Ages

David Morton — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:30:52 +0000

I’ve been reading a terrific book about the Middle Ages, recently, by an American scholar with a great sweeping view of history about the powerful influence of medievalism on the contemporary world. I’ve always found the imaginative influence of the Middle Ages captivating: Chaucer’s pilgrims, the wild behaviours of feudal lords, the gritty view of [...] Related posts:

New Medieval Fiction: The Saint and the Fasting Girl

David Morton — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:25:39 +0000

I wish I could say my recent hiatus from blog posting had resulted in a prodigious output in pages for my novel. Alas, nothing of the sort. I had taken time off work a few months ago that was a great boon to the novel, but my return to teaching has overwhelmed me. Not only [...] Related posts:

Slaying Dragons

David Morton — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:41:33 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, I had my trial by fire. I attended a meeting of my erstwhile writers’ group and read a passage from my novel. I had taken a few weeks off work to make some headway on the novel and I had about 40 pages of material from which to choose a [...] Related posts:

When the sweet showers of April …

David Morton — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:30:09 +0000

Whan that Aprill with its shoures sote The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote, And bathed every veyne is swich licour, Of which vertu engendred is the flour; Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth Inspired hath in every holt and heeth The tendre croppes, and the yonge [...] Related posts:

Inspiring Places: Historyfish.net

David Morton — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:00:22 +0000

“Literature is a toil and a snare, a curse that bites deep.” Or so said D.H. Lawrence. Which gives me some comfort, because I seem to be doing all I can to avoid my writing, this morning. I’ve spent the last couple of hours brewing a Shitake Beef Stew that will be consumed tonight. I’ve [...] Related posts:

Inspiring Places: Barry Unsworth’s Morality Play

David Morton — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 18:35:03 +0000

Finally, a respite from the rain and the cold. The sun shines today in Vancouver, and it looks like spring, though the cherry blossoms are nowhere to be seen. The blossoms in my front yard are trying, but they are reluctant to invest themselves in this uneven weather. They look like little popcorn kernels ready [...] Related posts: