Have you thought about writing a piece on Roald Dahl? He was also a spy, but active in Washington. He had many friends and lovers, and even had an affair with Tyrone Powers' wife. Apparently, someone confided the American plan to commercially obliterate the British civil aviation industry after the war, with a Pan Am monopoly. Churchill was apoplectic.
James Bond, especially portrayed by Sean Connery, was irresistable. The books less so and the author was a man of his time, meaning a bit of a misogynist. The remarks are typical as is the envy of 1950s America’s conspicuous consumption.
There is also another "American Way of Life" that this Brit absolutely doesn't get: the kind of way of life epitomized by our Johnny Appleseed's, Moondog's, Joe Coleman's, Tiny Tim's, and indeed heroes like Jack Parsons and Marjorie Cameron: the way that we can go forth in pursuit of an utterly individualistic dream and personal vision and just let it rip. This goes back of course to the notions of the "American Way of Life" as put forth by the Transcendentalists who gave us a vision of self-reliance, not as rugged individualism, but as being true to our own nature, and utter non-conformism. This vision of America is kind of hidden beneath the surface that gets blotted out by entertainment overload and guns, Jesus, football and hamburgers. But it thrives, as you can read about in outlaw bibles and the like.
Have you thought about writing a piece on Roald Dahl? He was also a spy, but active in Washington. He had many friends and lovers, and even had an affair with Tyrone Powers' wife. Apparently, someone confided the American plan to commercially obliterate the British civil aviation industry after the war, with a Pan Am monopoly. Churchill was apoplectic.
That's fascinating. I love Roald Dahl (his "adult" books are wild) but I've never looked into his biography much. Sounds like I should!
James Bond, especially portrayed by Sean Connery, was irresistable. The books less so and the author was a man of his time, meaning a bit of a misogynist. The remarks are typical as is the envy of 1950s America’s conspicuous consumption.
There is also another "American Way of Life" that this Brit absolutely doesn't get: the kind of way of life epitomized by our Johnny Appleseed's, Moondog's, Joe Coleman's, Tiny Tim's, and indeed heroes like Jack Parsons and Marjorie Cameron: the way that we can go forth in pursuit of an utterly individualistic dream and personal vision and just let it rip. This goes back of course to the notions of the "American Way of Life" as put forth by the Transcendentalists who gave us a vision of self-reliance, not as rugged individualism, but as being true to our own nature, and utter non-conformism. This vision of America is kind of hidden beneath the surface that gets blotted out by entertainment overload and guns, Jesus, football and hamburgers. But it thrives, as you can read about in outlaw bibles and the like.