4 ms·
> A married historian, productive in the way Gibbon was, is not so much a joke but perhaps an impossibility. One can be the author of a vast historical work of
by m52go 11y ago
> A married historian, productive in the way Gibbon was, is not so much a joke but perhaps an impossibility. One can be the author of a vast historical work of the kind of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, which was 20 years in the composing, or be happily married, but one is unlikely to bring off both.
Will Durant was both, in my estimation.
- walterbell 11y agoHe wrote with his wife, winning a joint Pulitzer, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Durant https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Durant
- lisa_henderson 11y agoYou should include both of them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_Durant https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_Durant And yet, this is the exception that probes the rule. The above quote has an element of humor in it, and it is basically saying "No modern marriage would allow this, as no modern spouse allow themselves to be ignored for so long." But Will and Ariel Durant did not have a modern marriage. Such a marriage is now illegal everywhere. Will Durant would now get 10 years in jail for announcing his feelings.