Seizing the day, novella, celebrating hedonism sparked a craze

Seizing the Day in Tel Aviv

By HENRY ALFORD

In this youthful, vibrant city in an ancient, troubled land, life is lived in the present. Anything wrong with that?

Bellow's fourth novel, Seize the Day was published as a novella in 1956 in a volume that also included three short stories — "A Father-to-Be," "Looking for Mr. Green," and "The Gonzaga Manuscripts" — and a play, The Wrecker. Considered by many critics to be Bellow's finest work of fiction, the novella was immediately singled out from among its companion pieces as a major work. The powerful impact of Seize the Day comes from its tightly constructed plot; from Bellow's ability to control effectively in a concentrated form such enormous themes as victimization, alienation, and human connection; and from his creation of Tommy Wilhelm, one of his most moving protagonists.

Seize the day and make the most of every moment! ... People who make things
happen, who seize the day act as if time is at a valuable premium

Poetry for Teenagers

Reviewed by KATIE ROIPHE

Two collections of poetry by teenagers, and a lively verse novella that takes the form of a conversation between a boy and a girl.

no・vel・la

［It.］ n. （pl. ～s, no・vel・le ） （教訓的・風刺的）物語; 中篇小説.

seize Show phonetics
verb
1 [T] to take something quickly and keep or hold it:
I seized his arm and made him turn to look at me.
He seized the chance/opportunity of a free flight with both hands (= with eagerness or enthusiasm).

2 [T] to take using sudden force:
The rebels have seized ten soldiers to use as hostages.
Political instability helped the army to seize power.
Troops yesterday seized control of the broadcasting station.

3 [T] If the police or other officials seize something, they take possession of it with legal authority:
Customs officers at Heathrow have seized 60 kilos of heroin.

4 [usually passive] If a strong emotion or pain seizes you, you feel it suddenly:
I was suddenly seized by/with a feeling of great insecurity and loneliness.

seizure Show phonetics
noun [C or U]
seizure of power/property/control
Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.

seize the day

phrase of seize

1. 1.

   make the most of the present moment.

seize

 ━━ v. つかむ; 捕える; 【法】((しばしばseiseとつづる)) 差押える; 理解する; （病気・恐怖などが）襲う; 奪う; （機械，身体が）動かなくなる ((up)); 【海事】縛る.

be seized of　…を持っている.
be seized with　（病気，恐怖などに）襲われる; （強い感情に）とりつかれる ((to do)).
seize on [upon]　…を襲う; …を（さっそく）利用する.
seiz・a・ble　━━ a. 捕え得る; 差し押さえられる.


There was one thing that left her unsatisfied at the end of that novella ( The Telltale Toothbrush) : she never found out who the heroine really was.

BBC Culture

In Victorian England, a collection of 11th-Century Persian verses celebrating hedonism sparked a craze – giving its writer a cult following.

What it really means to ‘seize the day’

‘Seize the day’, we are told – but how exactly do we do this? Fiona Macdonald talks to the author of a new book about how carpe diem can be reclaimed.

BBC.COM