To all our American readers, a Happy Semiquincentennial! Our birthday observances include a musical cavalcade down a quarter-millennium and a hymn to beauty. To round out the weekend, welcome to the conclusion of our eightieth Tale for Our Time: My Kinsman, Major Molineux, an allegory of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
We always get questions about the musical themes Mark chooses for his Tales. Steyn Clubber Josh Passell writes:
Let not this occasion pass without it being asked what beguiling tune accompanies this tale, and who wrote it?
Who wrote it? That would be Francis Hopkinson, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence and, in less revolutionary moments, a composer and lyricist. He also provided the opening number on this week's episode of Mark Steyn on the Town. To accompany Nathaniel Hawthorne's tale, Mark chose a song he published in 1788 and dedicated to George Washington, "The Traveler Benighted".
In our final episode Hawthorne's benighted traveler explains his background to a friendly Bostonian:
Robin briefly related that his father was a clergyman, settled on a small salary, at a long distance back in the country, and that he and Major Molineux were brothers' children. The Major, having inherited riches, and acquired civil and military rank, had visited his cousin, in great pomp, a year or two before; had manifested much interest in Robin and an elder brother, and, being childless himself, had thrown out hints respecting the future establishment of one of them in life. The elder brother was destined to succeed to the farm which his father cultivated in the interval of sacred duties; it was therefore determined that Robin should profit by his kinsman's generous intentions, especially as he seemed to be rather the favorite, and was thought to possess other necessary endowments.
"For I have the name of being a shrewd youth," observed Robin, in this part of his story.
"I doubt not you deserve it," replied his new friend, good-naturedly; "but pray proceed..."
Members of The Mark Steyn Club can hear Mark read the conclusion of My Kinsman, Major Molineux simply by clicking here and logging-in. Earlier episodes can be found here.
We shall have a brand new Tale for Our Time later this month. In the meantime, a word on listener reaction to our other Tales: some like the ripping yarns for boys, some the more genteel social comedy for girls, and some of you even enjoy our ventures into summer whimsy from yours truly. But of the tales in totality all seem to be in favour.
If you've yet to hear any of them, you can enjoy nine years' worth of audio adventures - by Conan Doyle, Kafka, Wodehouse, Gogol, Dickens, Baroness Orczy, Jane Austen, George Orwell, Robert Louis Stevenson and more - by joining The Mark Steyn Club. For details on membership, see here - and, if you're seeking the perfect gift for a fan of classic fiction, don't forget our Steyn Club Gift Membership. Sign up that special someone today - it makes a wonderful birthday present!
