There are those who believe that a university education is almost a prerequisite to becoming a successful author. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, you might be surprised to find out how many authors made names for themselves without finishing — or, in some cases, ever attending … Read more…

I began reading W. Somerset Maugham in the 1980s when I was covering Asia for the Chicago Tribune. Many of the places I worked and lived were the same places that Somerset Maugham set some of his books and short stories, so I felt it was my duty to get … Read more…

We are living at a time when it is fashionable to vilify and “cancel” the founders of our nation because a handful of myopic and narrow-minded chuckleheads have resolved to apply 21st-century values to the 18th and 19th centuries. I contend, however, that we need to take a step back … Read more…

Since 2010 Word Play Masters has run a contest circulated on the Web in which readers are asked to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and then supplying a new definition. As a writer, I have always been fascinated by words, … Read more…

Dear subscribers and friends of ForeignCorrespondent, Some of you may have already seen this message, and if you have, we apologize for the recurrence. But we want to make sure you are receiving the full range of benefits by creating a free subscriber account with ForeignCorrespondent. There have been a … Read more…

At the request of a faithful follower, today I am re-posting a column that appeared a while back in The Economist, one of the U.K.’s most prestigious magazines. Written by an unnamed foreign correspondent, it takes a sardonic and self-effacing view of foreign correspondents by suggesting that Harry Flashman, Victorian … Read more…

For most of my life, whenever Nazi Germany was brought up, somebody always said something like this: “It’s unbelievable that Adolph Hitler was able to manipulate and control the entire German population. It just seems impossible.” Yet that’s exactly what he did. Yes, there were some dissenters and political foes, … Read more…

Today, I am reposting a recent article by author and actor Michael Knowles, who also hosts the Daily Wire’s The Michael Knowles Show. In his article, Knowles discusses how sadly ill-informed American Millennials, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are when it comes to such critical topics as economics, socialism, capitalism, and … Read more…

We are hearing a lot today about the alleged advantages of socialism over the capitalist system that has been the main engine of wealth in the United States and the world. Thousands of teachers in K-12 schools, university professors, and a growing number of Democrats in Congress are singing socialism’s … Read more…

Flag Day Today is Flag Day. Big deal, you might say. Who cares? And anyway, just what is it and why is it considered a holiday, albeit a minor one? Here is a little history about Flag Day along with 13 surprising facts about the American flag and how to … Read more…

I have been writing, in one form or another, for most of my life. I learned the techniques and skills of writing by toiling for almost 30 years in the relentless and stressful world of journalism. I was in some pretty good company. Ernest Hemingway began his writing career as … Read more…

It is unsettling and sad to witness what is happening in our great country today. Never in my lifetime—and I’m older than Methuselah in dog years—have I ever witnessed such a sprint to socialism by an occupant of the White House. What bothers me about Joe Biden’s distressing embrace of … Read more…