Schiller thought that such scuffles were ridiculous at this late date, but they still held his interest, as quarrels among younger writers did not. His world was ending, and it was hard not to feel as if the world of intelligent discourse itself was coming to an end. The younger generation seemed so bent on celebrity, as opposed to lasting achievement. But of course, every generation believes itself to be the last truly cultivated generation. It's a form of vanity that's hard to resist.
– from Starting Out in the Evening by Brian Morton (photo is a still from the movie, starring Frank Langella as Leonard Schiller).
Wow. I hadn't heard of this movie (or story) (WHY hadn't I heard of it???) - thank you so much. I just went and watched the trailers. I'm mesmerized.
Posted by: RecollectedStephanie | March 20, 2010 at 12:08 PM
Funny, I always feel as if I have just missed the last truly cultivated generation - by about 50 years
Posted by: balloon man | March 25, 2010 at 07:02 AM