A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller, Jr.****

This novel was first published in 1969. I thought I had read it many years ago, but I was mistaken. The book is in three parts, the first part taking place more than a thousand years after civilization on earth is mostly destroyed by nuclear warfare in the late 1900's. The population includes monstrous beings made by radiation fallout. Most of the action takes place in a Catholic abbey in the Utah desert.
A monk finds an ancient repository of writing and illustrations from 20th century America, and thus begin efforts to rebuild civilization.

After several hundred more years, the people have got the world back pretty much as it was before destruction, and have developed advanced machines and weapons. And so--you guessed it--nuclear wars break out and threaten to destroy the world. Fortunately, several extraterrestrial colonies have already been established on other planets, and a space ship is ready to take the current citizens to outer space just before the world is destroyed.

The text of this book is larded with Latin phrases, mostly from the Catholic ceremonies and readings. I remembered a few words of Latin and a few prayers and quotations.

I really enjoyed the book. The first section is rather amusing, until the major monk, Brother Francis, is shot through the head with an arrow.

Fisticuffs

Daddy and I used to listen to the "fights" on the radio, but after they started being televised, I couldn't take any more.

The Brown Bomber (Joe Louis), the Manassa Mauler (Jack Dempsey), Cinderella Man (Jimmy Braddock). Rocky Marciano, "Smokin' Joe" Frazier, Muhammad Ali. I remember them all, though I never heard a Jack Dempsey fight.

Max Baer (Sr.) said the only way he could have beaten Joe Louis was with a baseball bat. Max's brother Buddy also boxed, and played the giant in the film "Quo Vadis."

Max Schmeling was denounced by the Nazis after he lost the championship to an American. After WWII, a story was revealed in which he risked his life to save Jewish children from the Nazis.

A recent online "health" article stated that violent sports, especially football and boxing, are connected to Alzheimer's disease, dementia and early death. But some who survived the ring lived on and on. Jack Dempsey died age 87, and Max Schmeling lived to be 99.

Firpo knoxking Jack Dempsey out of the ring - Painting by George Bellows

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I also remember smaller champs: Bobo Olson, Sugar Ray Robinson. And a little flyweight fellow whose name I forget.