The Professor and the Madman: a Tale of murder, insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary

The Professor and the Madman : a Tale of murder, insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester

The creation of the Oxford English Dictionary containing 414,825 definitions was begun in 1857 and took 70 years to complete.  The first edition of the OED was given to President Coolidge and is in the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library & Museum at Forbes Library.  The "Professor" is  James Murray, a former schoolmaster and bank clerk, and the editor and leader of the OED project. The "madman" is Dr. W. C. Minor, a retired American Civil War surgeon who was the largest contributor with over 10,000 entries to the OED project. Minor was an extraordinary contributor but he was also a murderer, clinically insane, and incarcerated in  Broadmoor, England's asylum for criminal lunatics. Winchester tells the history of the dictionary as well as the biographies of Murray and Minor.  While parts are long-winded, the story of the dictionary appeals to those who love words, books and libraries.  The biography of Minor appeals to those interested in the mind, behavior and psychology.  Readers who enjoy psychological fiction and are looking for a non-fiction book might also enjoy this.  

F for Fake [DVD]

F for Fake a film by Orson Welles

Join Orson Welles in a one of a kind cinematic experience that examines many shades of the truth. 1973's F for Fake is presented as an essay film; most definitely the first of its kind. Welles narrates the documentary often on camera with the appearance of a worldly travel host. While delivering literary quotations in a Brechtian style, interviewing subjects and delivering personal tales in his larger than life/life of the party personality, he incorporates a wide range of footage (including bit-lits from his recently abandoned projects) and edits various film formats in dramatic fashion.

At the heart of the movie, Welles discusses the parallels between notorious art forger Elmyr de Hory and the biographer Clifford Irving. Irving who settled in Ibiza working on the de Hory tale, later went on to create a fake of his own: a false biography of Hollywood tycoon Howard Hughes. The director weaves these and other scandals and also shines the light on his infamous War of the Worlds radio broadcast.

Though the content in F for Fake is presented as fact, the masterful Welles, a fan of the slight of hand, cannot resist the urge to play with his audience.

Headquarters [CD]

Headquarters by the Monkees

To earn the Monkees the right to play on their own records, Michael Nesmith's fist had punch a wall accompanied with the threat "that could've been your face".  Thankfully the powers that be relented because Headquarters, the band's third release, is possibly their  most unified, spirited effort.  

And now a bit about the personnel... Nesmith handles much of the guitar duties, the classically trained Peter Tork plays keyboards, guitars, basses and banjos, Mickey Dolenz sits behind the drum kit and dabbles on the guitar and Davy Jones shakes a mean tambourine and maraca.  All four sing.  Producer Chip Talyor plays the occasional bass.

Michael Nesmith, asserting himself as the band's most prolific songwriter, contributes the twangiest of tunes including "Sunny Girlfriend" and "You Just May Be the One". Peter Tork writes "For Pete's Sake", the groovy number that became the track which rolled over the end credits of the band's television program.  Davy tackles the Hildebrand/Keller number "Early Morning Blues and Green" replete with Wurlitzer electric piano and a wild, distorted organ.  Mickey Dolenz sings and writes the psychedelic "Randy Scouse Git" (included on most Monkees "best of" compilations), a song that was inspired by the band's trip to London and hanging out with the original Fab Four.

Headquarters sounds like a band working together trying to find their sound.  It's garage, it's pop, it's joyful.