I’ve been reading the recent translation of the spiritual diary and it’s been great.But it’s interesting to know what Bulgakov’s favorite dictionary was,so thanks for telling us.Also great pictures that tome almost looks like a stone tablet.
I suspect you disagreed about much with the late Justice Scalia, but you may share his preference for Webster's Second over the Third edition. Here is a passage from a footnote in a case to give you a flavor:
Upon its long-awaited appearance in 1961, Webster's Third was widely criticized for its portrayal of common error as proper usage. See, e.g., Follett, Sabotage in Springfield, 209 Atlantic 73 (Jan. 1962); Barzun, What is a Dictionary? 32 The American Scholar 176, 181 (spring 1963); Macdonald, The String Unwound, 38 The New Yorker 130, 156–157 (Mar. 1962). An example is its approval (without qualification) of the use of “infer” to mean “imply”: “infer” “5: to give reason to draw an inference concerning: HINT <did not take part in the debate except to ask a question inferring that the constitution must be changed—Manchester Guardian Weekly >.” Webster's Third New International Dictionary 1158 (1961).
David - there are a few for sale on ebay for around 50 dollars, but different ones are from different years. 1948, 1944, 1934, 1954, 1957. Is there a preferred year?
A related question from this British reader, then: which is the best single-volume British English dictionary? I happen to think the OED still has that distinction, but honestly, I could be out of touch. (Chambers arguably has a greater number of more obscure words, making it popular among cruciverbalists, but its definitions are inferior to the OED’s – at least in my edition, which is admittedly at least 35 years old.)
(This is an unrelated comment/request. Apologies if it'd been better left elsewhere. LTL/FTC)
Dear Dr. Heart,
might I make a suggestion for the series of long-form discussions via skype you've been conducting with selected interlocuters? I'd love to hear you in conversation with the british Arabist and novelist Robert Irwin. In his memoire (which i've just finished reading) he details his time as a student at Oxford in the 1960s. Inspired by the countercultural rumblings at home he strikes out for the east and spends time in a Sufi (Alawite) tariqa in Mostaganem, Algeria in search for God. Many strange and marvellous things are witnessed, but ultimately he fails to reconcile the two poles of East and West and falls between the two stools of Islamic mysticism and emergent Western flower power.
Secondly, do you have any thoughts on Maria Valtorta's revelatory writings The Poem of the Man-God (aka. The Gospel as Revealed to Me)? I've only dipped a toe into it thus far but I've heard some compelling points of argument as to why it can be taken as credible (see youtube channel Catholic Reconquista). How exciting to imagine the possibility of such a detailed text to supplement the Gospels!
I’ve been reading the recent translation of the spiritual diary and it’s been great.But it’s interesting to know what Bulgakov’s favorite dictionary was,so thanks for telling us.Also great pictures that tome almost looks like a stone tablet.
Thanks! - Here's a good old NYT article, 1964: "Outdated Webster II Still Sells; Educators Like Old Dictionary Better Than New One" https://www.nytimes.com/1964/11/07/archives/outdated-webster-ii-still-sells-educators-like-old-dictionary.html
I suspect you disagreed about much with the late Justice Scalia, but you may share his preference for Webster's Second over the Third edition. Here is a passage from a footnote in a case to give you a flavor:
Upon its long-awaited appearance in 1961, Webster's Third was widely criticized for its portrayal of common error as proper usage. See, e.g., Follett, Sabotage in Springfield, 209 Atlantic 73 (Jan. 1962); Barzun, What is a Dictionary? 32 The American Scholar 176, 181 (spring 1963); Macdonald, The String Unwound, 38 The New Yorker 130, 156–157 (Mar. 1962). An example is its approval (without qualification) of the use of “infer” to mean “imply”: “infer” “5: to give reason to draw an inference concerning: HINT <did not take part in the debate except to ask a question inferring that the constitution must be changed—Manchester Guardian Weekly >.” Webster's Third New International Dictionary 1158 (1961).
Look what I found on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Websters-New-International-Dictionary-1948/dp/B000YEIAXG/ref=sr_1_6?crid=QBIMGGHHCWWH&keywords=webster%27s+international+dictionary+2nd+edition&qid=1672172689&s=books&sprefix=webster%27s+international+dictionary+2nd+edition%2Cstripbooks%2C163&sr=1-6
Now that is awe-inspiring.
David - there are a few for sale on ebay for around 50 dollars, but different ones are from different years. 1948, 1944, 1934, 1954, 1957. Is there a preferred year?
A related question from this British reader, then: which is the best single-volume British English dictionary? I happen to think the OED still has that distinction, but honestly, I could be out of touch. (Chambers arguably has a greater number of more obscure words, making it popular among cruciverbalists, but its definitions are inferior to the OED’s – at least in my edition, which is admittedly at least 35 years old.)
Better than the OED. Incredible!
Done. Got mine today and it's BEAUTIFUL.
Thank you for this. I just got my copy and I love it. It's bulk, size, and leather binding annoys my wife. I find this oddly satisfying.
(This is an unrelated comment/request. Apologies if it'd been better left elsewhere. LTL/FTC)
Dear Dr. Heart,
might I make a suggestion for the series of long-form discussions via skype you've been conducting with selected interlocuters? I'd love to hear you in conversation with the british Arabist and novelist Robert Irwin. In his memoire (which i've just finished reading) he details his time as a student at Oxford in the 1960s. Inspired by the countercultural rumblings at home he strikes out for the east and spends time in a Sufi (Alawite) tariqa in Mostaganem, Algeria in search for God. Many strange and marvellous things are witnessed, but ultimately he fails to reconcile the two poles of East and West and falls between the two stools of Islamic mysticism and emergent Western flower power.
Secondly, do you have any thoughts on Maria Valtorta's revelatory writings The Poem of the Man-God (aka. The Gospel as Revealed to Me)? I've only dipped a toe into it thus far but I've heard some compelling points of argument as to why it can be taken as credible (see youtube channel Catholic Reconquista). How exciting to imagine the possibility of such a detailed text to supplement the Gospels!
Kind regards to you and the comments community.