VIEWING: HISTORY MADE VIVID
The American Revolution (PBS)
Ken Burns has done it again! The American Revolution, his latest series, is fascinating, compelling, and a rich viewing experience. The Chief Penguin and I just completed the second episode (each is two hours, so we watch half at a time), but we are finding it eye-opening. Burns has assembled a wide cast of historians and writers who provide additional commentary. This group is impressive for its diversity: women, men, Black and white, Native American and other.
We also hear the words of past poets and statesmen like Phyllis Wheatley and Washington, Franklin, and John Adams, voiced by the likes of Amanda Gorman, Claire Danes, and Mandy Pantinkin. Anyone who has watched previous series will also immediately recognize the distinctive voice, deep with a slight rasp, of overall narrator Peter Coyote.
Burns brings to life the contributions of ordinary farmers and highlights the unique role Blacks played. Some enslaved Blacks joined the British soldiers lured by the promise of freedom afterward. Black free men petitioned to join the Patriots and, after some debate, were allowed into the Massachusetts militia, an unusual circumstance.
It’s a complicated time, and we are learning aspects of history we had not known. The pace is measured and deliberate containing many small stories and incidents within the larger sweep of history. There are six episodes totaling 12 hours of viewing. Highly recommended!
A personal footnote: In 2006, Ken Burns was the commencement speaker at Lehigh University. The night before, we entertained him and the other honorary degree recipients at a small dinner at our home. I had the pleasure of having him seated on my right and enjoyed conversing throughout the meal. As expected, he was personable and delightful.
DINING: CELEBRATING AT THE MAYTON
In honor of our upcoming anniversary, we went downtown to the Mayton for dinner at Peck and Plume. We hadn’t been there in a while, and they have a relatively new chef. We requested seating in the library opposite the dining room and bar and were pleased with our quiet cozy table.
I had a lovely cobia crudo to begin. The thin slices of fish were layered on tapioca with dollops of avocado mousse around the plate along with kohlrabi and fresh basil. Light and delicious. The Chief Penguin enjoyed the starter of roasted Brussels sprouts and then had the sea bass, market fish of the day.
I went for the chicken ballotine, a row of round chicken slices backed by a stripe of broccolini and another stripe of mounded polenta. I loved the chicken but felt the polenta needed something more to pep it up. As a dessert treat, our waitress brought us a trio of macarons on a bed of chocolate gravel. Overall, it was an enjoyable outing!
READING: DEADLY PLANTS
In July, I reviewed an advance copy of a new mystery for BookBrowse. It has now been published so I’m sharing my review of it here.
The Botanist’s Assistant by Peggy Townsend
Margaret is a research assistant and lab manager for the eminent Dr. Weaver. She thinks highly of her boss, almost adores him, and he is one of the few individuals who appreciates her and the quality of her work. When Margaret finds him dead in a disheveled state, she assumes he has been murdered. The police don’t share her suspicions, but she starts investigating and enlists the help of Joe, a news journalist turned janitor.
This is a mystery, but a slowly unfolding one. Margaret is a quirky character, direct in her speech, and ungainly in appearance. She leads a tidy life with meals and activities timed and done in precisely the same order every time. While putting up with the eccentricities of her colleague Calvin, she barges forth, sneaking around, and collecting data on those she deems suspects. Aided by Joe and adopted by a cat, Margaret is sometimes forced to loosen up her approach to life and friendship as together they seek to identify the culprit.
I found that Margaret grew on me, and I began to enjoy her foibles and to cheer as she accepted Joe’s offers of help and the occasional meal. For me, the ending was a surprise. Recommended for fans of cozy mysteries and those who like the world of plants. Is there a sequel for Margaret in the making? (~JWFarrington)
That dinner with Ken Burns was a highlight of our time at Lehigh, Jean