Enjoyed this interview. Eric’s quick wit dotted the interview and didn’t monopolize it. What an interesting, fascinating life not in a funny way but he has done things and shows up like Forest Gump Mr. Helprin has had and of course still is. No one mentioned it is a miracle Mark lived being born at 7 months. Most babies back then born with spina bifida died back then. Great interview.

Wonderful to find this -- many, many thanks for posting. A genius writer and one of the most interesting, deeply impressive people alive. Please, please have him return for longer.

One of the rarest time Eric Metaxes let a guest speak without interruption or trying to bring some joke, in the first question. This means he was serious about his first question. And the guest didn't disappoint with his response.

Helprin is the person we want to hear. Not an interviewer seeking laughs.

A long overdue night for Socrates in the City. The last excellent interview I came across was with Jay Nordlinger of the National Review and the New Criterion. Thank Mr. Metaxas.

Truly, a great man.

Very neat. I just finished Soldier of the Great War and it's a terrific novel - absolutely great. Both complex and a good read. I look forward to reading more of Helprin.

@ianboard544

3 жыл бұрын

It's one of my 3 or 4 favorite novels - ever. Wonderful descriptions and characters and by turns, tragic and hilarious. It is surprising how many people have never heard of it.

@churchinlivonia8223

2 жыл бұрын

@@ianboard544 thanks for your recommendation. I will check it out from Hoopla and read it.

Thank you Eric. I had never even heard of Mark Helperin. I'm now very motivated to read some of his books. Your first question was brilliant. Mark part avoided it, and understandably asked were you serious. But you hung in there and defended your approach. And that led to him introducing us to his family, his writing, his amazing life, his views of publishers, and some of his pet hates, all the while answering the question, "What is the meaning of life?". It was very resonating, the way you agreed on people and books you hate. I just knew I'd hate them too. A fantastic interview.

A Winter's Tale was the best American novel of the second half of the 20th Century. And I may be wrong. It could be A Soldier of The Great War which I have not read yet.

@ianboard544

3 жыл бұрын

It's even better - IMO.

Thanks for what you do SITC

Another fascinating interview, thank you.

Thanks for this SITC; uniquely wonderful!

So good

Thank you... Both

Thank you SITC.

WAIT! I make street lights go out, too, but haven't found anyone else that does that. Don't know about making horses rear up..?? haha Anyone else do the light thing?

Eric Voegelin is who WFB quoted "to immanentize the Eschaton." Criticism of Gnosticism.

Mark I find your work "asoilderorthegreateaywar$ not only my favorite book but also the best place to hide my 60 to 74 dollars, most thieves would look in #refiners fire. Because it is shorter, but no less as thick..I read more about you and, I think you are the bees knees you are welcome to "breezy point %, any time I invite you, he he, I got some good stories as well, thanks for orfeo,titian, sparrows ,and your service to your cause.. wayne Hicks Eden NC

Mark on stage at 9:30 You're welcome.

@bradlindblad5225

5 жыл бұрын

Hellyers I actually come for the Eric opening monologue

He says he was on Obama's protective detail? Really?

@shanedanielsen9620

5 жыл бұрын

He was 61 years old when Obama took office. I suspect his 'protective' duties consisted of once standing beside him at the Harvard Club bar.

@georgewagner7787

Жыл бұрын

I'm 61. It's not that old.

Mark Helprin's real father was Dr. Strangelove.

Imbibing cognitive dissonance “Dropping bombs is ‘so cool” . . .

Why can’t you stop talking!

It is strange to hear Helprin begin this interview by trash-talking other people (he says Chuck Schumer is a liar, says he did not like Raymond Carver, hated his writing), and then start pontificating about "virtues." And for a Republican to call a Democrat a "liar" while we have Trump in the White House spewing more falsehoods than we've ever encountered before from a politician... Well, it's just ridiculous. I have no doubt that Helprin is a brilliant writer of fiction. I think his Winter's Tale is one of the best American novels written during the past 50 years or so. On a personal level, though, he seems to have a big ego that gets in the way of his aim to live "virtuously." He has been exposed as a fabricator when it comes to his own biography. He likes to self-mythologize. So when he claims he was on "Obama's security detail," I suspect he may be telling tall tales. I mean, WTF? Is this really true? And why doesn't the interviewer ask about this? I have tremendous respect for Helprin's fiction. But much of this conversation strikes me as delusional, pompous, and seething with resentment. Have all Republicans lost their minds?

@kymvanderkaag1474

5 жыл бұрын

Brian the fact is Eric has great difficulty peeling the onion and examining the layers. Mark Halprin is an amazing human character and the video link here is an example of a talented interviewer. kzread.info/dash/bejne/aX6MyLNvncKfcsY.html Cheers!

@edkelly2575

4 жыл бұрын

It is sad that you can't hear anything that Mr. Helprin is sharing. You only hear your own inner voice of Trump hatred. If you had read ANY of Helprin's works, you'd know he is dealing with levels of humanity far beyond the current political landscape and such inane comments as yours. And, it turns out, Schumer IS a liar.

@williamthompson7829

3 жыл бұрын

A politician was called a liar? You must be joking. We all know politicians don't lie. Mr. Helprin must have been joshing.

@georgewagner7787

Жыл бұрын

I can't believe somebody actually came out and said Schumer is a liar. I've lived in New York all my life and I've only ever heard one thing Schumer said that I agreed with. And that was about israel. He's a terrible liar and a hate monger

@georgewagner7787

Жыл бұрын

And it is a virtue to tell the truth about someone's lies