I’m not sure if this is an occult link with the Zeitgeist, or just a manifestation of the reallocation of attention that leads new parents to notice other people’s babies, but a month ago, I finally got around to ordering “The Strange Death of Liberal England” (George Dangerfield) which arrived at Easter. In the ensuing couple of weeks I’ve seen not one but two uses of the same idea, with both Protestantism and Toryism dying strange deaths. Maybe this is happening all the time and I’ve just started noticing.
{ 6 comments }
Harry 04.14.05 at 7:07 am
Its the new baby phenomenon, John. I read Dangerfield when I was 16, 25 years ago, and have noticed people talking about strange deaths every week since. Its getting tiring….
Ben Alpers 04.14.05 at 7:08 am
Dangerfield’s title is one of the most riffed-on in all of modern historiography. I even think Vann Woodward’s path-breaking Strange Career of Jim Crow is meant to invoke it. I’m sure the web has accelerated the uses of this trope. Here, for example, is “The Strange Death of Socialist Scotland”.
Jeremy Osner 04.14.05 at 8:55 am
I guess I have not been paying attention — this is the first I have grokked you have a new child. Congratulations!
Jayanne 04.14.05 at 2:13 pm
Jayanne 04.14.05 at 2:16 pm
Oh no not again — I mean, sorry about the blank post; my RSI and software problems combined are wrecking my web posts and e-mails at the moment…
re-write
>Maybe this is happening all the time
it’s cyclical. (I’m glad I’m not the only person who hadn’t read Dangerfield!)
John Quiggin 04.14.05 at 2:58 pm
Actually, jeremy, my newest child is 15, but the change in attention was something that struck me so forcibly at the time I’ve never forgotten it. But thanks for the congratulations anyway.
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