The Misanthrope’s Corner

IF you think the sublime classical world of antiquity could not produce an American neurotic, guess again. In 356 B.C. the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was set ablaze by a man named Erostratus who confessed that he did it because he wanted to be famous.

Boy, what he missed. America has long been the natural home of celebrity wannabes, but Erostratus would be in clover if he could see the liberating benefits they enjoy in the Nineties. Earlier on, when we merely democratized fame, we defended the right of any mouth-breather to rise from deserved obscurity on the strength of his God-given hebetude, but that’s now considered limiting, even elitist. Fame, once democratic, is now socialistic.

About the Author

Florence King

Florence King was a contributing editor of National Review.

IF you think the sublime classical world of antiquity could not produce an American neurotic, guess again. In 356 B.C. the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was set ablaze by a man named Erostratus who confessed that he did it because he wanted to be famous.

Boy, what he missed. America has long been the natural home of celebrity wannabes, but Erostratus would be in clover if he could see the liberating benefits they enjoy in the Nineties. Earlier on, when we merely democratized fame, we defended the right of any mouth-breather to rise from deserved obscurity on the strength of his God-given hebetude, but that’s now considered limiting, even elitist. Fame, once democratic, is now socialistic.