ABOUT

Balckwell: A Condensed Autiobiography
or,
A Crystal Clear Report to the General Public Concerning the Actual Essence of My Life: An Attempt to Force the Reader to Understand

Nobody has ever asked me who I am, and yet I’ve spent the majority of my life trying to explain it. Below, I will attempt to do so as briefly as possible. If you are interested in a longer version, I recommend the entire contents of this website.

I am Balckwell, and I am the happiest person on Earth. I am happy even when I am depressed, and even when I am miserable, because I have indirect access to what Plato or Plotinus might call “The Good.” This is not a joke but the honest-to-god truth. How did I gain access to “The Good?” By reading literature thoroughly and generously and with my entire heart. It’s really that simple.

I have been writing essays for over a decade — long before I ever heard of or encountered “The Good” — and they can all be found on this website. Within this collection, you will find personal reflections, philosophical musings, and literary explorations.

I was once a lonely and wretched man. The further you delve into the archives, the more lonely and wretched you will find me. By following this general rule, you can calibrate your reading experience based on the amount of loneliness and wretchedness you are interested in reading about.

I have written two novels. The first can be found on this website, and downloaded by various means. The second might show up next year sometime. Beyond that, I can only promise that one day, there will be a third novel. This is because writing novels is my life’s work: I can’t stop even if I try.

My life’s work also includes literary criticism. My long-form work can be found on the Features page, along with other things, such as a list of Great Books, curated by me and according to my taste. At one time, I uploaded videos to Youtube, and perhaps I one day will again.

I can’t speak for anyone else; I can only say that, as far as I am concerned, literature is the most important thing in the universe. (Eventually, you will discover that what I mean when I say “literature” encompasses far more than just books.) However, I also extend my love to other things, including my wife & cats, the city of Saskatoon where I live, and, if caught in the right mood, every single entity on the entire planet.

I am neither hopelessly naive nor eternally optimistic. In fact, you could describe me as fairly cynical and pessimistic. How can we reconcile this with all that I have just said? The solution to this mystery is contained right here on this website; unfortunately, I can not reveal it to you here, but can instead only ask you to read on and find out for yourself…

CONTACT:

balckwell [at] balckwell.online