Back Tuesday, after a mad dash to the Big City. Perhaps by then I will have remembered how to write about 19th century books again.
Have a good weekend. Thanks for all of the thoughtful comments this week. I value the gentle pressure on what I write.
Friday, January 7, 2011
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What BIG CITY you off to, allegedly Amateur Reader? I wish to report that I have finally managed to create a "feed" to your blog and that I've looked and read along the last few days. I also love Houseman. Met him through his wonderful "Loveliest of Trees," SO far back in the day (sigh). His stuff is nearly all about time--and the lovely moment of blossoming. I wished so to see "The Invention of Love," Stoppard's recent play about him, but I managed only to read it. Read Euripides about the same time I first read Houseman and was startled by what I saw as parallels between THE BACHAE and late '60's culture--the beautiful and the damned, so to speak. The Dionysian always runs that risk. By the way, finished my review of the Beer book--it was something.
ReplyDeleteJust stopped by your blog for the first time and really enjoyed reading! Beleive me, I relate to losing the ability to write... about anything really!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI ran off to - and am returned from - the same city where I saw
ReplyDelete"The Invention of Love" in 2000. At one point, Prof. Housman instructs his students (the audience) to take out their Odes of Horace. I happened to have just bought one, and had it under my seat, so I did what he asked. Meine Frau was, as you might guess, thrilled.
"The Bacchae" is virtually about the Sixties! Somehow. I agree entirely. And then there are the explicit anti-war plays. Euripides was counter-culture.
Maeve - thanks, that's very kind. I just made a visit over your way. Best of luck with the viva!
Oh, THAT big city! I so envy your having actually seen THE INVENTION OF LOVE! I hope to catch it someday. Glad you agree about the Bacchae--and the amazing thing is that while I was taking that class in Greek & Roman Drama, as the Viet Nam war was raging, I had to defend myself against friends who said such ancient stuff was "hopelessly irrelevant to the challenges of the day," etc. I was trying to argue: Hey, it's about US! Don't recall now if anyone believed me. Not everybody survived either The Bacchae or the '60's, sad to say.
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