tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post4223434493928678477..comments2024-03-27T16:48:21.039-05:00Comments on Wuthering <br>Expectations: The Best Books of 1863 - how very few of these / Poor little busy poet bees / Can we expect again to humAmateur Reader (Tom)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-15088110078204494862013-12-22T16:12:55.041-06:002013-12-22T16:12:55.041-06:00Actually, I meant to spite bookaroundthecorner, wh...Actually, I meant to spite bookaroundthecorner, who scorns Gautier; but I'm willing to spite others too.Doug Skinnerhttp://www.dougskinner.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-58549765336715814242013-12-22T15:07:00.639-06:002013-12-22T15:07:00.639-06:00Good - if it were easier to get a copy, I would sp...Good - if it were easier to get a copy, I would spite myself.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-91322594762375134072013-12-21T10:03:07.394-06:002013-12-21T10:03:07.394-06:00Maybe I'll read it, just to spite you.Maybe I'll read it, just to spite you. Doug Skinnerhttp://www.dougskinner.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-10937146565328729392013-12-20T16:28:18.328-06:002013-12-20T16:28:18.328-06:00How would you possibly know that?
It is in print ...How would you possibly know that?<br /><br />It is in print in editions for schoolkids. See the link below. Someone is reading it.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-28384887079230100062013-12-20T15:20:00.235-06:002013-12-20T15:20:00.235-06:00I've yet to meet someone who's read it.I've yet to meet someone who's read it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-59137657715323586742013-12-19T19:46:13.100-06:002013-12-19T19:46:13.100-06:00I have enjoyed him a lot, too, although I have not...I have enjoyed him a lot, too, although I have not come across with of those stories. I was just thinking recently that I might revisit his poems, since a new translation appeared a few years ago.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-3168197849515321702013-12-19T18:33:05.324-06:002013-12-19T18:33:05.324-06:00(That should be "I've usually enjoyed&quo...(That should be "I've usually enjoyed" and "tickled." Apologies.) Doug Skinnerhttp://www.dougskinner.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-64238540678650949582013-12-19T18:29:51.676-06:002013-12-19T18:29:51.676-06:00I've usually Gautier. I was particularly ticl...I've usually Gautier. I was particularly ticled by "Les Jeunes France" (pointed ridicule of the Romantics, including himself) and "Le Belle-Jenny" (a ridiculous adventure, with secret societies, thwarted marriages, and impossible coincidences). In the former, I was charmed by the debauch that fizzles because excessive drinking makes everyone sick or sleepy; in the latter, by the British hooligans who quote Shakespeare. Doug Skinnerhttp://www.dougskinner.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-78786567259256536262013-12-19T16:32:21.734-06:002013-12-19T16:32:21.734-06:00For a 150 year old book, this is life. In print, ...For a 150 year old book, <a href="http://www.amazon.fr/Capitaine-Fracasse-Theophile-Gautier/dp/2011691265/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387491918&sr=1-1&keywords=capitaine+fracasse" rel="nofollow">this is life</a>. In print, assigned in schools, made into comic books. The Captain is alive!<br /><br />There are likely some book blogs out there with more than <a href="http://wutheringexpectations.blogspot.com/search/label/GAUTIER%20Th%C3%A9ophile" rel="nofollow">four posts about Gautier</a>, but surely not too many.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-45561619832712895172013-12-19T16:16:01.449-06:002013-12-19T16:16:01.449-06:00I don't think Le Capitaine Fracasse is still a...I don't think Le Capitaine Fracasse is still alive in France, except for some BD or films (I read it as a child in an abridged version and try to read it again forty years after and it wasn't unpleasant). <br />Maybe it isn't Gautier's best book, but Gauthier was a fine writer with a beautiful style, an excentric Romantic slightly decadent, the first to adopt for a slogan the "Art for art's sake". His short stories, ghost stories mainly, are worth reading. Gautier's best novel was written far earlier than 1863, in 1835: Mademoiselle de Maupin is about a historical (?) swordswoman who went about disguised as a man. <br /><br />Viollet-le-Duc evokes not only restoration but also creation of some imaginary past : he said he restored by "interpretation", unhencing buildings, updating them, creating a state of architecture that may have never actually existed. catherine darleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05693132012083884186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-87630622767745337672013-12-19T15:11:48.797-06:002013-12-19T15:11:48.797-06:00Gautier! There is an old English translation. I ...Gautier! There is an old English translation. I have to say, it looks tedious. But I see it still has life in France, with recent film, TV, and BD versions.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-91714393852214663972013-12-19T15:00:40.500-06:002013-12-19T15:00:40.500-06:00You must be right that Romola does not give the fe...You must be right that <i>Romola</i> does not give the feel of a facade or a 19th century restoration (which is what I take the reference to Viollet-le-Duc to mean).<br /><br />Rohan Maitzen analysis of the awkward "cheese with macaroni" line gets at this issue.<br /><br />From what I have seen of <i>Romola</i>, I assume that Eliot's models were the novels of Walter Scott (some of which are themselves pretty great).Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-77000152885887281552013-12-19T14:58:31.833-06:002013-12-19T14:58:31.833-06:001863 is the year of Le Capitaine Fracasse, a book ...1863 is the year of Le Capitaine Fracasse, a book I couldn't finish due to its pompous prose. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-14843239178310927262013-12-19T14:31:08.911-06:002013-12-19T14:31:08.911-06:00Yes, what did I mean ?!
Let's try. I don'...Yes, what did I mean ?! <br />Let's try. I don't see many nineteenth century novel that would bear similitudes with Romola — but maybe I'm forgeting a lot of great books just now. It doesn't enfold the story in erudition, even if erudition is there, nor does it hide it under Renaissance revival (Viollet-le-Duc style). catherine darleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05693132012083884186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-59255486000482255162013-12-19T13:58:43.803-06:002013-12-19T13:58:43.803-06:00If I really do push that Chernyshevsky readalong i...If I really do push that Chernyshevsky readalong idea, I will have to include reading strategies and alternatives. Anyone reading for romance, or story, or interesting characters, or good prose, or, surprisingly, ideas, will be disappointed. Yet there are ways into the book.<br /><br />If you click on either of the links I attached to <i>Romola</i>, you will find readers happy to agree with you to some degree. I wonder what you mean by "un-nineteenth century," though. The 19th century was a big place.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-87868875978627683792013-12-19T13:41:58.013-06:002013-12-19T13:41:58.013-06:00But Romola is such a great book, one so surprising...But Romola is such a great book, one so surprising — so different from any historical novel, and so un-nineteenth century, so anti-Cabanel in its spirit.catherine darleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05693132012083884186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-64305566441392678042013-12-19T13:34:32.240-06:002013-12-19T13:34:32.240-06:00Never been able to finish What Is To Be Done? Real...Never been able to finish What Is To Be Done? Really third-rate literature with a romance awfully naive.catherine darleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05693132012083884186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-3394314312140826352013-12-18T23:08:31.293-06:002013-12-18T23:08:31.293-06:00Oh yes, What Is To Be Done? has romance, peasants,...Oh yes, <i>What Is To Be Done?</i> has romance, peasants, almonds - I distinctly remember a scene with almonds - agricultural practices. Everything, it has everything.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-52594074837892673082013-12-18T15:09:01.719-06:002013-12-18T15:09:01.719-06:00I've read What is to be Done? Not that I can r...I've read What is to be Done? Not that I can remember much about it, except it was pretty didactic and political - but I'm pretty sure there was some kind of romance in it too.obookihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03885121629202810216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-41491196310525607502013-12-18T13:27:15.487-06:002013-12-18T13:27:15.487-06:00Third-rate. Yeah, what the heck. I've had du...Third-rate. Yeah, what the heck. I've had dumber ideas. Expect an announcement off in the distant future.<br /><br />I wonder if I have read Palma while studying Spanish? Those tales from <i>Peruvian Traditions</i> show up in Spanish readers. It doesn't sound so familiar, though.<br /><br />I like the idea that horrible tales of the Inquisition might be the "most fun." I find that plausible.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-67213426791647313242013-12-18T13:20:26.686-06:002013-12-18T13:20:26.686-06:00A Chernyshevsky readalong would be fun. What is to...A Chernyshevsky readalong would be fun. <i>What is to be Done?</i> being a second-rate book might increase the fun, you know.<br /><br />That Palma stuff looks great! Is there an English translation of the <i>Inquisitions</i>? "These last two jokes, which reveal wit and a funny side, confirm that Angela Carranza deserved her fate at the hands of the Inquisition." Irresistible.scott g.f.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726743149139510832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-15673819447703323762013-12-18T11:19:14.989-06:002013-12-18T11:19:14.989-06:00In 1863 for the first time a book collected some o...In 1863 for the first time a book collected some of Ricardo Palma's Tradiciones Peruanas, this book was The annals of Lima's Inquisition. Palma's Peruvian Traditions were arguably the most fun tales to come out of Latin America during the 19th. Century.<br /><br />Here's a little excerpt from this 1863 brilliant book: <br />'On the morning of December the 20th, 1694 the masses of Lima came down upon the Church of Santo Domingo to witness the ceremonies of an Auto-da-fe. [Last of those sentenced was Angela Carranza]. <br /><br />On her books of revelations Carranza wrote about how on one occasion the Lord said to her: 'Can you believe it, Angela, I don't know what shoe size my mother wears? On a different chat, God told her: I cannot make you perfect Angela because your confessor priest is spying on us. She also remarked how God told her that good women are few and far between, and how because Peter was hardheaded he was crucified head down. These last two jokes, which reveal wit and a funny side, confirm that Angela Carranza deserved her fate at the hands of the Inquisition.<br /><br />She wrote that God favored Mary Magdalen more because he was attracted to her and liked her rather than because she deserved such privilege. Saint Mary of Egypt was so heavy that angels had to hoist her into heaven and when Saint John the baptist was doing her hair, God told him: Come on John, leave her alone, manly men don't know how to do a proper hairdo! She also revealed these secrets: God told her -Angela you're my mirror and I'm your reflection; I'm the blemish on your face and you're the shadow on my face. God once sent an angel to fetch her to heaven and Angela said, God will have to excuse me today because I'm very busy and I cannot go. On another occasion some angels brought a chair to her and said: on this throne God rules over the universe, Angela, please sit on it. God promised her that she'd become the patron saint of Lima. Saint Agustin once told her, Angela, despite you not being a man, I'd give you my place and my staff, but I'm afraid you'd use my staff to hit the Pope on the head until he explains what he meant by the mystery of the immaculate conception of the Virgin!'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-59256317064354305182013-12-18T09:26:02.631-06:002013-12-18T09:26:02.631-06:00I remember a push ten or maybe 15 years ago to bri...I remember a push ten or maybe 15 years ago to bring out some updated translations of Verne. But it seems people mostly read the 19th century versions.<br /><br />Thanks for the poem. Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-72122854460156186212013-12-18T09:00:39.992-06:002013-12-18T09:00:39.992-06:00Verne was not well served by translators; generati...Verne was not well served by translators; generations of English readers knew him only from stodgy abridgements. There are Verne surprises: "Doctor Ox's Experiment," for example, made into operas by both Offenbach and Gavin Bryars. And here's my translation of his sonnet in praise of morphine: http://ullagegroup.com/2011/07/31/jules-vernes-sonnet-on-morphine/Doug Skinnerhttp://www.dougskinner.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-69113760422055574712013-12-17T23:45:16.174-06:002013-12-17T23:45:16.174-06:00Verne was such a narrow writer himself, but look a...Verne was such a narrow writer himself, but look at all the invention that has spun out of his work.<br /><br />Yes, a good omission to correct, thanks.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.com