Progressive opinion, for example, has long held that British judges and barristers should abandon their wigs and robes because ordinary members of the public are unnerved by them. Ordinary members of the public aren't unnerved by Elton John wearing a Versace dress in The Sunday Times or Mayor Giuliani in drag doing Victor/Victoria. Surely we aren't such novelty junkies that we don't see the antiquated garb for what it really is: a reassurance - that the justice system predates the fads and fashions of the present day.
Steyn on "Present-Tense Culture"
Mark's essay in The Future Of The European Past roams widely from Magic Johnson to 19th century schoolbooks to "Raves For Jesus", and has been cited by many commentators from Martin Allan Treu to George Will. "If you can have snappily written threnodies, this is one," said The Times Literary Supplement in London.
But Mark's is only one contribution in a book that includes nine other essays by Anne Applebaum, David Pryce-Jones, John Gross, Hilton Kramer, Roger Kimball, Roger Scruton, Ferdinand Mount, John Herington and Keith Windschuttle. Human Events listed it as one of "twelve books you simply must read". We're pleased to offer the 2004 paperback edition, personally autographed by Mark to you or a friend.
