Last week on my way to the office—after an early morning foray into the part of Homer’s Odyssey where Odysseus begins to tell the story of his adventures to the hosts who have rescued him—my attention was caught by two fellow bus passengers recounting to each other how they had […]
By Julia Zarankin I am very excited about returning to Classical Pursuits and leading a discussion seminar on Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. Many people say that the world can be divided between Tolstoy and Dostoevsky lovers, and this summer you’ll be able to test which camp works best for you! I […]
By Susan Lahey Explore the visual beauty of Islamic art in the newly opened Aga Khan Museum. We are fortunate this summer to be able to visit the highly anticipated museum dedicated to Islamic art, the first of its kind in North America. Join us for the afternoon to enjoy […]
By Lisa Pasold Winter nights, one of my greatest pleasures is looking forward to summer travels—and my favourite companions on these cold nights are poets who have voyaged before me. One of my most enduring affairs is with the work of Japanese 17th-century poet-monk Bashō. My motto is his line: […]
By Üstün Bilgen-Reinart As an adolescent, I heard my father, who passionately loved music, discussing Verdi’s Otello with my uncle. I perked up my ears when I heard him say Otello was a masterpiece; the ultimate flowering of Verdi’s genius. At that time, I dreamt of becoming an opera singer, […]
When Ann and I first discussed a seminar on literary memoir, featuring works by George Orwell, Vladimir Nabokov, and William Styron, I was intrigued by the opportunity to group such three different writers and books together in one week. I had read various novels by each author, and had read […]
The path towards sainthood was an indirect one for our hero, Augustine. He ended up spiritually rather far from where he began, but just where his mother wanted him: “Never mind being a doctor or lawyer, my son is a saint!” And he got there by always looking for meaning […]
I’m Rick Phillips and I’ve been leading music seminars at Toronto Pursuits for ten years. I can’t imagine a summer without Toronto Pursuits—it is always a stimulating experience. For July 2015, I’ll be leading the seminar Follow the Lieder: The Songs of Franz Schubert on German lieder and, in particular, […]
Dear registrants in the “You Can Do It! James Joyce’s Ulysses” seminar – and also those who are considering registering for it: I want to welcome you in advance to the seminar and encourage you to sign up if you are considering it. We titled the seminar “You Can Do […]
By Üstün Bilgen-Reinart I kiss’d thee ere I kill’d thee. No way but this— Killing myself, to die upon a kiss. (V.ii.258–59) For insights into the great mysteries of life such as the workings of love and death, many of us turn to the masterpieces of music and literature. The […]