Creative Works

Gordon Bowker’s Biography of James Joyce Reviewed by Martin Rubin

Gordon Bowker, “James Joyce: A New Biography.” New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 608pp. $35. Illustrated. San Francisco Chronicle, July 15, 2012 By Martin Rubin In many ways, James Joyce is a literary biographer’s dream: a rich, complex oeuvre; a complicated and peripatetic life, much of it in…

August 6, 2012

Review of Hilary Mantel’s “Bring Up the Bodies” by Martin Rubin

Book review: 'Bring Up the Bodies' is a compelling re-creation Hilary Mantel returns to the vicious world of Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell's maneuverings. May 20, 2012 - Los Angeles Times - By Martin Rubin Hilary Mantel's novel about the Tudor political puppet-master supremo Thomas Cromwell, "Wolf…

July 6, 2012

‘David Hockney,’ Review by Martin Rubin

THE WASHINGTON TIMES JUNE 10, 2012 Book Cover: David Hockney: A Bigger Picture “David Hockney: A Bigger…

June 25, 2012

Review of Stephen Fry’s ‘The Fry Chronicles’ by Martin Rubin

Martin Rubin reviews Stephen Fry's autobiography in The Washington Times (May 18): Stephen Fry, “The Fry Chronicles.” New York: Overlook. 438pp. $29.95. Illustrated. By Martin Rubin Who else but Stephen Fry could write an autobiography---and a substantial one at that---all organized around the…

May 29, 2012

Martin Rubin Reviews ‘Below Stairs,’ the memoir that inspired ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ and ‘Downton Abbey’

Margaret Powell, “Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid’s Memoir that inspired ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ and ‘Downton Abbey.’” New York: St. Martin’s Press. 212pp. $22.99. THE WASHINGTON TIMES. MONDAY MARCH 19 2012 By Martin Rubin

March 26, 2012

Martin Rubin on Mimi Alford’s ‘Once Upon a Secret’

Mimi Alford, “Once Upon a Secret: My Affair with President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath.” New York: Random House. 198pp. $25. Washington Times, March 9, 2012 By Martin Rubin Even if you have a low tolerance for kiss-and-tell books about famous people, as I do, you might want to take a look at…

March 10, 2012

Martin Rubin Reviews ‘An Honourable Englishman’

The Washington Times, February 21, 2012 Adam Sisman, “An Honourable Englishman: The Life of Hugh Trevor-Roper." New York: Random House. $40. 643pp. Illustrated. Review by Martin Rubin "Hugh Trevor-Roper (1914-2003) was one of the most famous and admired British historians of his time, holder of…

February 26, 2012

Video: Tom Halpin, Violin, Performing Vitali Chaconne

Jean Brenner writes: Our classmate Tom Halpin has recently posted many of his performances on YouTube.  I found this one particularly moving. If you’re interested in seeing and hearing more of Tom’s performances, you can find them by searching “Thomas Halpin” on YouTube.  Enjoy!—…

February 21, 2012

Lise Pearlman’s Book Party in NYC Jan. 18

Lise Pearlman writes to invite us all to a party celebrating her new book, to be held on Jan. 18 at Barry Scheck's office in Manhattan: I will be in Manhattan for the wine and cheese party at Neufeld, Scheck and Brustin LLP celebrating the debut of my book The Sky's The Limit: People v. Newton, The…

December 19, 2011

Martin Rubin Review of Julian Barnes’ ‘The Sense of an Ending’

Los Angeles Times, October 20, 2011 Julian Barnes, “The Sense of an Ending.” New York: Knopf. 163pp. $23.95. By Martin Rubin When Evelyn Waugh sent the manuscript of his magnum opus “Brideshead Revisited” to his friend and fellow novelist Nancy Mitford, her response was enthusiastic, except…

October 20, 2011