[Vaquero]

"And one more thing about Gould: he doesn't put scientists up on a pedestal. He's just as critical of "conventional wisdom" among scientists --- past and present --- as he is of the nabobs who think they are saying something meaningful when they declare "evolution is a theory, not a fact". " Didn't....the man has been dead for a while now......

[samtheman]

When you talk about an author's writings, I think it's ok to use the present tense.

Shakespeare handles the subject of death with subtle grace and ageless wit.