Honor, Civilization, and America: Author Mark Helprin on His Latest Work

Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas sits down with the inimitable Mark Helprin, whom Metaxas describes as the greatest living fiction writer. In this conversation, the well-acquainted pair discuss Helprin’s latest novel, The Oceans and the Stars, a partial homage to Moby Dick and The Odyssey.
"It’s a book about honor and civilization,” says the author who was called “the most difficult man to interview” by renowned journalist Dorothy Fuldheim (the first American journalist and Jewish woman to interview Adolf Hitler). In this conversation, as entertaining as any, the two travel down many topic paths from Helprin’s writing process, his experience with US presidents, to his marrying a tax lawyer. And much more.
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Get the book: The Oceans and the Stars: A Sea Story, A War Story, A Love Story (A Novel)
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This conversation took place in April 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina.
#socrates #writer #honor #civilization

[@LeeGee]

Mark Helprin should have had the highest of prizes decades ago. Many thanks for this rare interview.

[@dianestandish7635]

I love Eric's interviews

[@JohnPatrickWeiss]

Mark Helprin is a literary gift. My wife introduced me to Winter’s Tale years ago. And Helprin’s pieces in places like the Wall Street Journal are always erudite, insightful, and informative. Looking forward to his new novel.

[@JoanKentBible]

I was fascinated by Mark Helprin's story and also by his wonderful power of recall. He has some amazing things to reveal to us in his book.

[@marchess286]

His address to west point cadets, "I dodged the draft and I was wrong", is one of the best things I ever read.

[@CSUnger]

"My deference is calibrated only to their virtue, not according to their virtue" @27:30 If only more people had this insight. We wouldn't be in the situation we find ourselves today on so many fronts.

[@Sharkman1963]

I'll listen to any interview of Mark Helprin, on any subject at all, and on a mission to read every word he's published. He's a genius.

[@johnmartin4152]

This was brilliant. Thanks.

[@timcgreen]

Hear, hear! Thank you, MH. I owe you a letter.

[@Sharkman1963]

Really enjoying this interview as I see the news that the Iranian ship featured in Mr. Helprin's excellent newest novel just capsized at its berth the other day. Ha!

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

What's It About? Its About 460 pages. 🙂

[@jasonelfert6485]

Where is the rest of this interview, the part from the following day?

[@vivianpowell1732]

Search Mark Helprin Eric Metaxas interview part 1 in the search bar at the top of your watch history page, and it should pop up.

[@peggyoban4069]

The central point Solzhenitsyn’s Nobel Laureate address.

[@loriforges6304]

Eric's tanned face is a bit Oompa Loompa in this episode.

[@3maisons]

Homage: nothing to do with Cockney pronunciation. A French word, "homage" has H "muet" (silent), unlike "haricot" (string bean) which has H "aspiré" (breathed).

[@marchess286]

Heydrich was assassinated by Czechs, not Poles.

[@excelsior553]

What a clumsy, self-important interviewer.

[@bdff4007]

Onward and upward, Excelsior!

[@garywatson3911]

He’s great

[@MonaMistric]

Not a fan of Rothko art either