Thanksgiving

About the Book

Eugene Narrett has been involved in some of the most turbulent and culture-shaping events of our era from the massive peace demonstrations and student uprisings of the late 1960s, to the art and film worlds in NYC and Boston, to the changing waters of postmodern Academia; to activism for fathers, true liberalism and for Israel.

This Memoir organizes itself around traumatic experiences of bereavement and injustice and persistent hope. Shining through the punitive and shocking changes in his life and society, the narrative is suffused with reflections on creativity, regret and love: his love for his parent’s place in Vermont, for the garden he created; for teaching; for the adventures and accomplishments of youth and, above all, for his son.

This narrative is intriguing in its varied palette of events and dynamism; in its vividly evoked memories of special places, events and people; above all in the love for a child and home. The warmth of this love enfolds the loss and challenges. Thanksgiving is the tale of a creator and survivor. Read it for its glimpses of history, meditations on memory and trauma, and for its heart.

"In this fascinating and passionate memoir, Dr. Narrett, one of today's most original commentators on culture and literature describes his life through a series of vignettes which powerfully delineate the deep cultural changes of recent decades." --- D. M. Lerner, PhD

About the Author

Eugene Narrett grew up in New Jersey and attended Columbia University in NYC for his College and Graduate Studies whose range helped shape his life and work. His BA was in Art History and his MA (Honors) and PhD were in English & Comparative Literature. He played a catalytic but unplanned role in the student uprising at Columbia in spring 1968. Stimulated by his studies of literature and art, he began painting in 1976 and for sixteen years his works were exhibited in NYC, the Boston area and Chicago. In late summer 1978 he moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts and began teaching at the University of Lowell. He has taught at several Universities and Colleges in the greater Boston area and a year overseas. From 1982 – 91, he wrote about 260 art reviews and essays, mostly for Art New England. He belonged to Stux Gallery in Boston. Motivated by increasing intolerance and hypocrisy in society and academia and by a punitive divorce process, he began writing on culture and politics. He wrote a weekly column and contributed articles, columns, essays and reviews to many nationally circulated newspapers and magazines. He has done extensive radio commentary. He endured politically motivated harassment and was the subject of some national attention. He has traveled widely in Europe and Israel and authored books on culture and geopolitics. He has spoken or lectured in Washington, New York, Boston and Jerusalem. Since 1998 he has conducted literature classes for seniors. He is a published poet.

Beyond art and writing, for fifteen years his life focused around his efforts to protect his son and relationship with his son during a divorce. These efforts led to ironic outcomes still in process. Among other traumas, much of his art was lost. He sold his home to teach overseas, an experience so bad he returned and, after challenging journeys, bought it back. His life, like this Memoir is a chronicle of the upheavals and changes of our times.