Born this day: Jean-Paul Aron

Jean-Paul Aron would be 91 years old today. In 1976 Melinda sat down with Mr. Aron, then a spry 51, in Paris. There conversation was included in her book Through Parisian Eyes, in which in the French writer, journalist, and philosopher had a lot to say:

On the search for novelty that has invaded art and literature: "I am not against modernity, and I know that each epoch produces its own new truth. But I am against these impostures of modernity, that's to say, these 'new' systems of thought, which become like commodities...People say that America produces literary works like commodities. But it's true of France. At the moment we have new products, or books, that glut the market, each one destorying the validity of the previous 'new' book."

On structuralism: "People take to these systems of thought when they want to avoid living, meaning, and feelings. There's a curious taste for objectivity...What I mean is that people are under the illusion that you can transcribe a so-called objective view of the world...so you don't have to actually experience life."

Read the full text here.

MelindaCamberPorter.com

Happy Birthday Michael Lonsdale

"Michael Lonsdale, one of the most protean and familiar French actors of the screen and stage, had just completed working in English on Joseph Losey's latest film, Mr. Klein, when I met him in London."

So begins Melinda Camber Porter's reflection on her conversation, one of over 30 included in her book Through Parisian Eyes, with Mr. Lonsdale, who turns 85 years old today. Happy birthday!

Read the full text here.

MelindaCamberPorter.com

Melinda's Readers Love Fashion in the Time of Queen Elizabeth

Belinda Missen from Australia says it's "Fabulously illustrated. I would absolutely recommend it. It's a great example of her early work, combining mediums as she was wont to do."

Kristine from Minneapolis gave it 4 stars. She called it "An unusually constructed book. The authoress...wrote a longer-length report in primaries while supplying her own pencil lead and blue ink sketches of fabric flounces and texture of British subjects, noblemen, and royalty."

Serra Garris suggests her independent bookstore in Grove, OK carry Fashion In The Time Of Queen Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603) by Melinda Camber Porter. They are likely to hand-sell this book and give it a three-star rating. Serra is responsible for choosing new titles that will appeal to their customers in Oklahoma. They currently offer non-fiction, New Age, metaphysical, history, biographies, as well as fiction, romance, science fiction/fantasy and erotica.

Find some illustrations from the book on Melinda's Instagram