Niccolo Machiavelli
Joe Markulin, WIOX radio host and now Roxbury’s preeminent historical novelist and literary theorist, will make another rare radio appearance Thursday, November 14th from 8-10 pm on his very program In Heaven There Is No Beer where he is likely to discourse upon his new book Machiavelli – A Renaissance Life. This epic piece of storytelling brings the world of 15th-century Italy to life as it traces Machiavelli’s rise from young boy to controversial political thinker.
This program will provide listeners with a hint of what to expect of Did Machiavelli Play the Accordion?, his book talk and signing on Saturday, November 16th from 3-5 pm at the Roxbury Corner Store.
Concerning this compelling question, Joe has recently remarked: “I'm often asked, in my capacity as accordion DJ, and in my other capacity as historical novelist, what's the link between the two? Did Machiavelli play the accordion? The simple answer is, of course, no. The accordion was "invented" in Austria in 1829. Machiavelli died in Italy in 1527. The gap of 300 years would appear to make this sort of musical endeavor on Niccolo's part a non-starter.
But that's not the whole story. Maybe my music-loving protagonist could have played the accordion. After years of research, I've discovered a remarkable truth that could well blow the lid off the world of Renaissance studies--to say nothing of the world of accordion studies (if such a discipline even exists). My talk will focus on this extraordinary relationship and how things might well have played out.”
In Heaven There Is No Beer is broadcast on WIOX radio so may be listened to on the air at 91.3 for those so fortunate to be in the environs of Roxbury or alternatively heard streaming on the internet to the world at wioxradio.org.
