William J. Dean

The road to Harvard College was a bumpy one for me. My impending 60th college reunion evokes pre-college memories. The arithmetic suggests that I may

The sounds of New York City are both harsh and melodious. Beneath my office window, fire engines and police cars, sirens screaming, attempt to move

The 1960s Mosfilm’s production of Tolstoy’s, “Warand Peace,” running seven-plus hours and shown in four parts, directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, arrived in New York City

Julian Green, an American novelist and diarist, the first non-French national to be elected to the Academie francaise, years ago wrote, “There is scarcely a

At this time of year in frigid New York – a temperature of 5 degrees is predicted for tomorrow — I think a lot about

Montaigne tells us that we are no better than “assesloaded with books” if we fail to make use in our lives of what we learn

Some New York City lawyers choose a “Downtown Death” where, at an advanced age, your secretary hears a thud, enters your office and finds you

In a world of cosmic challenges, I find it relaxing on occasion to turn my attention to personal matters of no consequence in the larger

In his marvelous book, “Flaubert’s Parrot,” JulianBarnes writes: “It’s easy…not to be awriter. Many people aren’t writers and very little harm comesto them.” Those who

Mother introduced me as a child to the great poet of Russia, Aleksandr Pushkin (1799-1837). Russian-born, mother enjoyed reciting his poetry at home in the

When growing up in New York City, Central Park lay at the center of my small world. Our apartment, and the elementary school I attended,

The summer months bring to mind travel thoughts, past and present. Business being slow, the trattoria owner in Palermo joins me at the table. I