A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court – Mark Twain, 274 pgs.
This novel tells the story of Hank Morgan, a 19th century engineer from Hartford, Connecticut who through a strange turn of events finds himself in the 66h century England of King Arthur. He is almost immediately captured by a knight upon his arrival in the 6th century and taken to Camelot where he learns he is to be executed in a couple days time. Using his superior modern wit to escape the situation, hank sets out on a grand process of introducing 19th century technology, know-how, education, and values to Arthur’s realm.
The novel is filled with many humorous moments as is apt with other fiction from Twain but there is also a distinct dark side to the story that becomes ever more apparent. The impact of the past with the present (at least at the time of writing) results in the dismantling of the romantic view of the past while simultaneously reveals the faults in the belief of scientific and social progress. The England of Arthur is depicted as one where the people, although not generally subjected to the institution of slavery, are for all purposes the equivalent of slaves. The ‘freemen’ of the day have no rights whatsoever and are subject to the whims of a nobility whose only entitlement to rule is blueness of their blood. The Church is similarly depicted as repressing force against the mass of humanity. The protagonist Hank struggles endlessly to awaken in the people a sense of social justice and outrage at being treated as dirt by their noble lords. He is constantly frustrated in his attempts though and concludes that the level of indoctrination is so deep in the people that only large structural changes and the rise of a new generation will provide the seeds for a revolution to overturn the existing order.
Hank Methodically sets out to accomplish just such a revolution by starting clandestine centers of education and industry, all the while keeping an eye on the Church so as not to have his program disrupted. With the introduction of modern technology and education, ‘progress’ moves along at a steady pace. But with all the advances to society also comes the capacity to disrupt and destroy as much if not more. In seeking to replace the controlling ideology of the Church, Hank inadvertently sets up a rival ideology that demands the complete submission of the people as well.
Twain’s criticisms of the 19th century become all the more apparent when applied against the backdrop of an age unrecognizable to ours. It is rather amazing that the problems he confronts, free market capitalism, mechanization of war, political ideologies, confidence in a historical progression towards a better society, would all come to the fore in the 20th century as pressing questions confronting a world with the ever growing capacity to destroy itself. The novel stays true to Twain’s pessimism concerning his day and the ‘damned human race’ ends with a truly terrifying scene. All good novels have to concern themselves with themes that go deeper than the mere story that they tell. Twain certainly does not disappoint with this effort.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
Antic Hay – Aldous Huxley
Antic Hay – Aldous Huxley
I have to say I enjoyed this novel, as I have almost all of Huxley’s other writings, for the light it shines on a particular segment of society in an interesting if confused time. Huxley employ’s his characteristic wit and satirical prose in telling the tale of a mixed group of Londoners in the 1920’s, all seeking to make sense of a life, and perhaps more importantly to derive pleasure from it, that has lost it’s focus somewhere along the way. The protagonists range from pedants, academics, failed artists, journalists, scientists, and the idle rich and the just plain idle. Their interactions with one another form the loose framework of the story, although it seems really to be about each person’s individual pursuit of their own particular pleasure. I say it seems to be about this because it is hard to put your finger on a single theme.
Some will have trouble with this novel as it lacks a serious plot device or any culmination of the story in a climax. It certainly does not fall into the same category as some of Huxley’s more famous fictional works such as Brave New World or Island. Those who care to give it a chance though may be delighted by what they do find, namely a snapshot into the life and society of the pseudo-aristocratic circle in the inter war period in Britain. The time was one of change in society; a break from the past was clearly in the midst of happening, but no one was sure where is was leading, if anywhere. In this sense the novel and the characters really capture the essence of the time with their apparent frivolity and absence of direction. It is still a very readable novel, although at some points it is clear that the amount time that has passed since its publication in the 1920’s has left become too large a gap to overcome. Although Huxley is a greater writer and many of his works have stood the test of time, Antic Hay is not one of them.
Still the novel is packed full of humorous moments, for example Theodore’s giddy glee at the prospect of joining the ranks of the capitalist with his bound-to-be-fantastic new invention: pneumatic trousers, and does good job capturing the spirit of the age, however confused that spirit may be. Huxley’s command of the English language, as well as French and Latin, and his overall intelligence offer rewards to the reader outside the story itself. For those who appreciate a master performing his craft, Antic Hay will be a delight.
I have to say I enjoyed this novel, as I have almost all of Huxley’s other writings, for the light it shines on a particular segment of society in an interesting if confused time. Huxley employ’s his characteristic wit and satirical prose in telling the tale of a mixed group of Londoners in the 1920’s, all seeking to make sense of a life, and perhaps more importantly to derive pleasure from it, that has lost it’s focus somewhere along the way. The protagonists range from pedants, academics, failed artists, journalists, scientists, and the idle rich and the just plain idle. Their interactions with one another form the loose framework of the story, although it seems really to be about each person’s individual pursuit of their own particular pleasure. I say it seems to be about this because it is hard to put your finger on a single theme.
Some will have trouble with this novel as it lacks a serious plot device or any culmination of the story in a climax. It certainly does not fall into the same category as some of Huxley’s more famous fictional works such as Brave New World or Island. Those who care to give it a chance though may be delighted by what they do find, namely a snapshot into the life and society of the pseudo-aristocratic circle in the inter war period in Britain. The time was one of change in society; a break from the past was clearly in the midst of happening, but no one was sure where is was leading, if anywhere. In this sense the novel and the characters really capture the essence of the time with their apparent frivolity and absence of direction. It is still a very readable novel, although at some points it is clear that the amount time that has passed since its publication in the 1920’s has left become too large a gap to overcome. Although Huxley is a greater writer and many of his works have stood the test of time, Antic Hay is not one of them.
Still the novel is packed full of humorous moments, for example Theodore’s giddy glee at the prospect of joining the ranks of the capitalist with his bound-to-be-fantastic new invention: pneumatic trousers, and does good job capturing the spirit of the age, however confused that spirit may be. Huxley’s command of the English language, as well as French and Latin, and his overall intelligence offer rewards to the reader outside the story itself. For those who appreciate a master performing his craft, Antic Hay will be a delight.
Aldous Huxley – The Devils of Loudun – p.315
Aldous Huxley – The Devils of Loudun – p.315
It is the early 17th century in Loudun, France. The local parish priest, Urbain Grandier, has become embattled in various local rivalries with civic magnates and ecclesiastical officials. He makes powerful enemies among them but they are helpless to action against for the moment. Both sides are determined to see victory and religious sanctity takes a back seat to revenge and personal gain. Against this backdrop an altogether remarkable occurrence takes place; the inhabitants of the local covenant experience an extraordinary case of mass possession by demons. The head of the covenant, Sœur Jeanne des Anges, experiences the worst of the possessions and under an exorcism conducted by Jean-Joseph Surin she, or the demon within her, places the blame squarely on the shoulders of Urbain Grandier. The moment his enemies have waited for has arrived.
For those who are fans of Huxley’s fictional and non-fictional works this book is not one to be missed. Although it falls into the category of non-fiction as it tells the story of a historical event in 17th century France, Huxley uses his creative powers and imagination to make the tale come alive. Granted historians may have an issue with taking such liberties in writing about a historical event, but Huxley’s goal is not ‘pure’ history, a pretty questionable term in itself, but rather to tell the story of a remarkable event with all the drama and suspense that it deserves.
His account of the mass possession in Loudun is backed up by an admirable amount of research. It is clear that Huxley’s knowledge of both the time and place extend far beyond the details of the story and serve to enlighten his account. His understanding of human psychology as plays a prominent role in this book. It goes beyond a simple recounting of historical events, which as interesting as they are does not in itself make the book a unique one. It is Huxley’s continual fascination with the human mind that really makes this book special. After setting out the basic historical framework for the story, he attempts to reconstruct the psychological factors that played a large role there. After examining the individual characters from the Loudun saga, Huxley takes the time to reflect and draw conclusions about humanity in general and what drives people to believe themselves possessed and the further implications this has.
Whether one agrees with the validity of conducting a sort of psychological analysis of historical figures hundreds of years removed from us and then in turn using those conclusions to draw wider ones about humanity or a time period in general, this book is an immensely interesting read.
It is the early 17th century in Loudun, France. The local parish priest, Urbain Grandier, has become embattled in various local rivalries with civic magnates and ecclesiastical officials. He makes powerful enemies among them but they are helpless to action against for the moment. Both sides are determined to see victory and religious sanctity takes a back seat to revenge and personal gain. Against this backdrop an altogether remarkable occurrence takes place; the inhabitants of the local covenant experience an extraordinary case of mass possession by demons. The head of the covenant, Sœur Jeanne des Anges, experiences the worst of the possessions and under an exorcism conducted by Jean-Joseph Surin she, or the demon within her, places the blame squarely on the shoulders of Urbain Grandier. The moment his enemies have waited for has arrived.
For those who are fans of Huxley’s fictional and non-fictional works this book is not one to be missed. Although it falls into the category of non-fiction as it tells the story of a historical event in 17th century France, Huxley uses his creative powers and imagination to make the tale come alive. Granted historians may have an issue with taking such liberties in writing about a historical event, but Huxley’s goal is not ‘pure’ history, a pretty questionable term in itself, but rather to tell the story of a remarkable event with all the drama and suspense that it deserves.
His account of the mass possession in Loudun is backed up by an admirable amount of research. It is clear that Huxley’s knowledge of both the time and place extend far beyond the details of the story and serve to enlighten his account. His understanding of human psychology as plays a prominent role in this book. It goes beyond a simple recounting of historical events, which as interesting as they are does not in itself make the book a unique one. It is Huxley’s continual fascination with the human mind that really makes this book special. After setting out the basic historical framework for the story, he attempts to reconstruct the psychological factors that played a large role there. After examining the individual characters from the Loudun saga, Huxley takes the time to reflect and draw conclusions about humanity in general and what drives people to believe themselves possessed and the further implications this has.
Whether one agrees with the validity of conducting a sort of psychological analysis of historical figures hundreds of years removed from us and then in turn using those conclusions to draw wider ones about humanity or a time period in general, this book is an immensely interesting read.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
An American Dream – Norman Mailer
An American Dream – Norman Mailer p.238
Mailer’s ‘classic’ story of a supposedly all-American life gone astray is at times very good, but all too often it doesn’t reach the heights that it is aiming for. The concept of the American Dream is something that has loomed large in popular culture both in the US and in the exported version of that culture abroad. Many authors and artists have attempted to explore and seek out the essence of this rather ambiguous concept (Hunter S. Thompson comes to mind). More often than not they have not really known where to look and have come to the conclusion that the American Dream is dead or at least decaying. This view is central to Mailer’s own investigation into the Dream. In this book he attempts to convey a broader picture of society through the fall from grace and respectability of a middle-aged successful former Congressman.
Certainly the downfall of one man’s life from seeming respectability and contentment into upheaval, the underworld and the margins of his former society can be seen as a metaphor for an American generation in general or even the entire society. The fixation on suicide throughout the book seems almost a forced symbolic element when taken as part of the surface or primary story; it definitely makes more sense when applied to the death of the American dream as a whole. That Mailer sees US society standing on the ledge of building and alternating between the impulse to jump and self-preservation I think is a rather accurate assessment of the times he was writing about. The problem is that the effort to tie this into the story of the individual is too obvious or unnatural for lack of a better term.
Mailer set his goal high in writing this book, but for this kind of work the parallel meanings have to both be obvious, be able to stand independent of each other, and most importantly, naturally intertwine with each other. The failure to do so results in something that might have been great and yet clearly is not. All that being said, I did enjoy the book for the most part and would recommend it as a decent story and summation of a challenging time in the history of US society. One certainly cannot fault Mailer for the attempt.
Mailer’s ‘classic’ story of a supposedly all-American life gone astray is at times very good, but all too often it doesn’t reach the heights that it is aiming for. The concept of the American Dream is something that has loomed large in popular culture both in the US and in the exported version of that culture abroad. Many authors and artists have attempted to explore and seek out the essence of this rather ambiguous concept (Hunter S. Thompson comes to mind). More often than not they have not really known where to look and have come to the conclusion that the American Dream is dead or at least decaying. This view is central to Mailer’s own investigation into the Dream. In this book he attempts to convey a broader picture of society through the fall from grace and respectability of a middle-aged successful former Congressman.
Certainly the downfall of one man’s life from seeming respectability and contentment into upheaval, the underworld and the margins of his former society can be seen as a metaphor for an American generation in general or even the entire society. The fixation on suicide throughout the book seems almost a forced symbolic element when taken as part of the surface or primary story; it definitely makes more sense when applied to the death of the American dream as a whole. That Mailer sees US society standing on the ledge of building and alternating between the impulse to jump and self-preservation I think is a rather accurate assessment of the times he was writing about. The problem is that the effort to tie this into the story of the individual is too obvious or unnatural for lack of a better term.
Mailer set his goal high in writing this book, but for this kind of work the parallel meanings have to both be obvious, be able to stand independent of each other, and most importantly, naturally intertwine with each other. The failure to do so results in something that might have been great and yet clearly is not. All that being said, I did enjoy the book for the most part and would recommend it as a decent story and summation of a challenging time in the history of US society. One certainly cannot fault Mailer for the attempt.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
The Soft Machine – William Burroughs p.132
The Soft Machine – William Burroughs p.132
The Soft Machine is Burroughs’s definitive work of cut-up and experimental writing. Most of the elements of the book are taken from the same period of writing that produced his first success Naked Lunch and are in many ways a natural continuation of that work. Many familiar characters pop up in The Soft Machine and many of the same themes of homosexuality, drug addiction, death, murder and corruption appear throughout. That being said, The Soft Machine is in many ways different from Naked Lunch. The most apparent is the total abandonment of any semblance to a coherent storyline. I will call this the cut-up style in the macro approach. There is a micro side of it as well. In almost every sentence Burroughs applies the technique to combine words and phrases that at first glance have no apparent connection or meaning together. The result is an interesting, if a bit tiring form of literary art.
I started reading this book directly after I finished Naked Lunch and was a bit let down by it at first. I was looking for something that had a bit more meaning taken as a whole and The Soft Machine just isn’t that kind of book. It was only after I realized this that I began to appreciate it for what it was: a conscious attempt to create a new literary form and actively use words to illustrate the patterns of society and life that we are too familiar and dependent upon. Addiction is a dominant theme in Burroughs’s work and it normally manifests itself in the form of dope, but I think he uses his unique style to illuminate the other pervasive forms of addiction that he saw saturating society. Addiction is essentially concerned with control, the control of a substance over the actions and choices of an individual. For Burroughs a mode of though or way of life could be just as easily substituted for a substance as long as it met the conditions of addiction.
The Soft Machine is an essential work and in many ways definitive in Burroughs assault against all the agents of control in our societies. Through a destruction of past literary forms and the resulting reconstruction into something utterly different he hoped to show not a solution to the problems confronting us, but rather to show us all how widespread and engrained the current system is.
The Soft Machine is Burroughs’s definitive work of cut-up and experimental writing. Most of the elements of the book are taken from the same period of writing that produced his first success Naked Lunch and are in many ways a natural continuation of that work. Many familiar characters pop up in The Soft Machine and many of the same themes of homosexuality, drug addiction, death, murder and corruption appear throughout. That being said, The Soft Machine is in many ways different from Naked Lunch. The most apparent is the total abandonment of any semblance to a coherent storyline. I will call this the cut-up style in the macro approach. There is a micro side of it as well. In almost every sentence Burroughs applies the technique to combine words and phrases that at first glance have no apparent connection or meaning together. The result is an interesting, if a bit tiring form of literary art.
I started reading this book directly after I finished Naked Lunch and was a bit let down by it at first. I was looking for something that had a bit more meaning taken as a whole and The Soft Machine just isn’t that kind of book. It was only after I realized this that I began to appreciate it for what it was: a conscious attempt to create a new literary form and actively use words to illustrate the patterns of society and life that we are too familiar and dependent upon. Addiction is a dominant theme in Burroughs’s work and it normally manifests itself in the form of dope, but I think he uses his unique style to illuminate the other pervasive forms of addiction that he saw saturating society. Addiction is essentially concerned with control, the control of a substance over the actions and choices of an individual. For Burroughs a mode of though or way of life could be just as easily substituted for a substance as long as it met the conditions of addiction.
The Soft Machine is an essential work and in many ways definitive in Burroughs assault against all the agents of control in our societies. Through a destruction of past literary forms and the resulting reconstruction into something utterly different he hoped to show not a solution to the problems confronting us, but rather to show us all how widespread and engrained the current system is.
Friday, June 15, 2007
The Doors of Perception & Heaven and Hell
The Doors of Perception – Aldous Huxley
This book is written in the form of an essay and recounts the experiences of the author after taking mescalin for the first time. It is a fairly short read, about 80 pages, but the philosophical reflections require time to fully grasp. Huxley volunteers to be the guinea pig in a controlled experiment to observe the effects of mescalin. The resulting experience gave cause for Huxley to reflect deeply on the nature of reality and how humans shape this reality through perception. What is perceived in one state of consciousness as real can indeed become something altogether different in another. Huxley explores this intertwined relationship and places it in a larger historical context recalling the works and deeds of the visionaries and mystics of the past.
This work is a must for anyone interested in boundless possibilities that arise from hallucinogenic substances. The fact that Huxley is a very intelligent scholar as well as a gifted writer allow him to tackle a difficult subject and tell it in words that lend themselves to the initiated. Those interested in the remote frontiers and the unmapped areas of human consciousness would do well to read this.
*Side note: The band the Doors took their name from the book. The title of the book actually refers to a line in the poem The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, written by William Blake in 1793. “If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.”
Heaven and Hell – Aldous Huxley
Another rather short essay (about 100 p.) from Huxley in the vain of The Doors of Perception. In it Huxley takes on the fast unknowns of Mind at Large, examining the basic properties and functions of visionary experience. This essay is basically a philosophical discourse on the possibilities that exist for visionary experience. The contrast between the positive and negative experience are characterized in the contrasting realms of Heaven and Hell. What makes this an incredibly interesting read is that all arguments made are based on plausible grounds and quite often on scientifically sound grounds. Although written over a half century ago, this work has proved a classic that stands out in a field that is still insufficiently investigated. Together with The Doors of Perception, Heaven and Hell shows that Huxley is as much a force in the world of nonfiction thought as he is in fiction. Read what this man has to say and think about it. There is a lot there to digest.
This book is written in the form of an essay and recounts the experiences of the author after taking mescalin for the first time. It is a fairly short read, about 80 pages, but the philosophical reflections require time to fully grasp. Huxley volunteers to be the guinea pig in a controlled experiment to observe the effects of mescalin. The resulting experience gave cause for Huxley to reflect deeply on the nature of reality and how humans shape this reality through perception. What is perceived in one state of consciousness as real can indeed become something altogether different in another. Huxley explores this intertwined relationship and places it in a larger historical context recalling the works and deeds of the visionaries and mystics of the past.
This work is a must for anyone interested in boundless possibilities that arise from hallucinogenic substances. The fact that Huxley is a very intelligent scholar as well as a gifted writer allow him to tackle a difficult subject and tell it in words that lend themselves to the initiated. Those interested in the remote frontiers and the unmapped areas of human consciousness would do well to read this.
*Side note: The band the Doors took their name from the book. The title of the book actually refers to a line in the poem The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, written by William Blake in 1793. “If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.”
Heaven and Hell – Aldous Huxley
Another rather short essay (about 100 p.) from Huxley in the vain of The Doors of Perception. In it Huxley takes on the fast unknowns of Mind at Large, examining the basic properties and functions of visionary experience. This essay is basically a philosophical discourse on the possibilities that exist for visionary experience. The contrast between the positive and negative experience are characterized in the contrasting realms of Heaven and Hell. What makes this an incredibly interesting read is that all arguments made are based on plausible grounds and quite often on scientifically sound grounds. Although written over a half century ago, this work has proved a classic that stands out in a field that is still insufficiently investigated. Together with The Doors of Perception, Heaven and Hell shows that Huxley is as much a force in the world of nonfiction thought as he is in fiction. Read what this man has to say and think about it. There is a lot there to digest.
The Consolation of Philosophy
The Consolation of Philosophy – Boethius
The Consolation is a philosophical treatise written by Boethius (c. 480-524 A.D.) while awaiting his execution after being imprisoned by the Gothic emperor Theodoric. The first time I heard of Boethius and his most famous composition was, as so often is the case, when I was reading another work. The work in question is A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy O’Toole. The main character of O’Toole’s novel, one Ignatius J. Reilly, had based his entire life and worldview around the philosophy of Boethius and his assessment of Fortune. A great work in its own right, A Confederacy of Dunces left a lasting impression in my mind and, when by chance I came across a copy of the Consolation in the used bookstore (Boardwalk Books for all you Duluthians), I jumped at the opportunity to see for myself what Boethius had to say.
The work is composed of five books beginning with Boethius struggling to make sense of his imprisonment and pending execution. Confronted with a fate that is seemingly at odds with the virtue and faith with which he has conducted his life, Boethius is about to succumb to the sorrow that is filling his thoughts. Just then he notices the presence of a woman in his cell, the awe-inspiring Philosophy. She bemoans that Boethius, once such an avid student of hers, is now about to abandon all that he had previously gained. Thus begins a journey of reason and contemplation between the two until Boethius in the end finds the consolation that he had almost given up upon. Interspersed between the dialogues of Boethius and Philosophy are a number of poems that range in subject matter and content. More numerous at the beginning of the work, the poems often times serve as transitions between arguments or help to put difficult concepts into a clearer light. Thus a remarkable harmony is reached between prose and poetry that can be appreciated even in an English translation, a rare feat indeed. (For my reading I chose the V. E. Watts translation published by Penguin Classics).
It is perhaps significant to understand the time in which Boethius lived a bit better to gain a more accurate reading of his work. Living long after Constantine’s conversion to Christianity in the 4th century A.D., it is widely accepted that Boethius was a Christian and believer of the tenants of the Catholic Church (at a time when the Gothic emperor Theodoric, also a Christian but belonging like all Goths to the heretical Arian sect that believed that the father and son were not of one substance). One must find it a bit peculiar than that at no point in Boethius’ text is Christianity mentioned in any overt context. To find a believer in his last days before death turning not to theology for comfort, as one might expect, but rather to philosophy has raised many questions about the nature of Boethius’ belief. But one only has to look to the title of the work to see that Boethius is choosing philosophy for the subject of his work and could very well indeed have thought theology a better consolation, although one that would be and should be treated in an altogether separate treatise. With this in mind, Boethius draws on the works of the great philosophers and thinkers of antiquity; Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Seneca, St. Augustine, the Stoics, and the Neo-Platonists. This feat being all the more remarkable because Boethius apparently relied on his own memory to produce the arguments and passages seeing as he had no access to any literary sources while imprisoned.
Boethius has rightly been called the last classical man. Indeed his thoughts and works can be seen as forming a bridge between the classical world and the Middle Ages. The Consolation influenced countless numbers of theologians throughout the Middle Ages and direct references are to be found in the works of masters such as Dante and Chaucer. His lonely contemplation of good and evil, fate and free will, fortune and the nature of happiness certainly still have an allure to inquisitive minds to this day.
The Consolation is a philosophical treatise written by Boethius (c. 480-524 A.D.) while awaiting his execution after being imprisoned by the Gothic emperor Theodoric. The first time I heard of Boethius and his most famous composition was, as so often is the case, when I was reading another work. The work in question is A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy O’Toole. The main character of O’Toole’s novel, one Ignatius J. Reilly, had based his entire life and worldview around the philosophy of Boethius and his assessment of Fortune. A great work in its own right, A Confederacy of Dunces left a lasting impression in my mind and, when by chance I came across a copy of the Consolation in the used bookstore (Boardwalk Books for all you Duluthians), I jumped at the opportunity to see for myself what Boethius had to say.
The work is composed of five books beginning with Boethius struggling to make sense of his imprisonment and pending execution. Confronted with a fate that is seemingly at odds with the virtue and faith with which he has conducted his life, Boethius is about to succumb to the sorrow that is filling his thoughts. Just then he notices the presence of a woman in his cell, the awe-inspiring Philosophy. She bemoans that Boethius, once such an avid student of hers, is now about to abandon all that he had previously gained. Thus begins a journey of reason and contemplation between the two until Boethius in the end finds the consolation that he had almost given up upon. Interspersed between the dialogues of Boethius and Philosophy are a number of poems that range in subject matter and content. More numerous at the beginning of the work, the poems often times serve as transitions between arguments or help to put difficult concepts into a clearer light. Thus a remarkable harmony is reached between prose and poetry that can be appreciated even in an English translation, a rare feat indeed. (For my reading I chose the V. E. Watts translation published by Penguin Classics).
It is perhaps significant to understand the time in which Boethius lived a bit better to gain a more accurate reading of his work. Living long after Constantine’s conversion to Christianity in the 4th century A.D., it is widely accepted that Boethius was a Christian and believer of the tenants of the Catholic Church (at a time when the Gothic emperor Theodoric, also a Christian but belonging like all Goths to the heretical Arian sect that believed that the father and son were not of one substance). One must find it a bit peculiar than that at no point in Boethius’ text is Christianity mentioned in any overt context. To find a believer in his last days before death turning not to theology for comfort, as one might expect, but rather to philosophy has raised many questions about the nature of Boethius’ belief. But one only has to look to the title of the work to see that Boethius is choosing philosophy for the subject of his work and could very well indeed have thought theology a better consolation, although one that would be and should be treated in an altogether separate treatise. With this in mind, Boethius draws on the works of the great philosophers and thinkers of antiquity; Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Seneca, St. Augustine, the Stoics, and the Neo-Platonists. This feat being all the more remarkable because Boethius apparently relied on his own memory to produce the arguments and passages seeing as he had no access to any literary sources while imprisoned.
Boethius has rightly been called the last classical man. Indeed his thoughts and works can be seen as forming a bridge between the classical world and the Middle Ages. The Consolation influenced countless numbers of theologians throughout the Middle Ages and direct references are to be found in the works of masters such as Dante and Chaucer. His lonely contemplation of good and evil, fate and free will, fortune and the nature of happiness certainly still have an allure to inquisitive minds to this day.
Ernest Hemingway in the Romano Archipelago
Ernest Hemingway in the Romano Archipelago – Enrique Cirules 134 pgs.
This short work recounts the life and times of Ernest Hemingway in Cuba. Although not widely studied, Hemingway’s experiences in Cuba formed a lasting impression on the writer and became a source of inspiration and material for much of his later work. The work was originally published in Spanish and the translation into English seems a bit simple at times, yet it gives a sort of enduring quality to the book. It is not only a record of Hemingway’s physical life in Cuba, but also rather a documentation of the legacy that Hemingway left behind him. The author recounts legends, myths, stories, adventures, and events that often resurfaced later in works such as The Old Man and the Sea, Islands in the Stream, For Whom the Bells Toll, and A Moveable Feast. Perhaps more importantly Cirules brings to life these tales by bringing us back to the Cuba of Hemingway and describes how he remains a part of the island to this day.
Cirules is a native of Cuba and an award winning essayist and narrative writer. His admiration for Hemingway and his work is apparent throughout the book. Cirules wants to shed more light on want he considers an essential part of Hemingway’s life, from his first visit to the island in 1928 to his final in 1960, a year before his death. In the intervening years Hemingway roamed the streets of Havana, took up residence in Finca Vigia, explored the vast archipelago to the northeast of the island, chased German U-boats during WWII on his yacht Pilar, had various love affairs, and brushed shoulders with everyone strata of Cuban society from political leaders to the meager turtle hunters of the unspoiled Cayo Romano.
I have read Hemingway before and always enjoyed his work, but this book has made me want to explore Hemingway the man more. It will be interesting to go back and reread some his works that I now have a background for, at least as far as where particular bits of inspiration came from. Certainly worth the read for anyone interested in the life of Hemingway and the experiences that helped to forge his creative force. The whole book is tinted with a bit of romanticism and one gets the feeling that Hemingway would have the story of his times in Cuba told no other way.
This short work recounts the life and times of Ernest Hemingway in Cuba. Although not widely studied, Hemingway’s experiences in Cuba formed a lasting impression on the writer and became a source of inspiration and material for much of his later work. The work was originally published in Spanish and the translation into English seems a bit simple at times, yet it gives a sort of enduring quality to the book. It is not only a record of Hemingway’s physical life in Cuba, but also rather a documentation of the legacy that Hemingway left behind him. The author recounts legends, myths, stories, adventures, and events that often resurfaced later in works such as The Old Man and the Sea, Islands in the Stream, For Whom the Bells Toll, and A Moveable Feast. Perhaps more importantly Cirules brings to life these tales by bringing us back to the Cuba of Hemingway and describes how he remains a part of the island to this day.
Cirules is a native of Cuba and an award winning essayist and narrative writer. His admiration for Hemingway and his work is apparent throughout the book. Cirules wants to shed more light on want he considers an essential part of Hemingway’s life, from his first visit to the island in 1928 to his final in 1960, a year before his death. In the intervening years Hemingway roamed the streets of Havana, took up residence in Finca Vigia, explored the vast archipelago to the northeast of the island, chased German U-boats during WWII on his yacht Pilar, had various love affairs, and brushed shoulders with everyone strata of Cuban society from political leaders to the meager turtle hunters of the unspoiled Cayo Romano.
I have read Hemingway before and always enjoyed his work, but this book has made me want to explore Hemingway the man more. It will be interesting to go back and reread some his works that I now have a background for, at least as far as where particular bits of inspiration came from. Certainly worth the read for anyone interested in the life of Hemingway and the experiences that helped to forge his creative force. The whole book is tinted with a bit of romanticism and one gets the feeling that Hemingway would have the story of his times in Cuba told no other way.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
The Rise and Fall of Great Powers
The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers – Paul Kennedy
History/Political Science – 540 pages
A good book for anyone interested in an overview of nation-state history spanning the past 500 years. While definitely taking a macro approach to world history (which any attempt at a world history must take), Kennedy does a very good job in examining two of the very prominent factors that lead to rise of some powers and the subsequent decline of others. These two factors are military, i.e. how various wars and military developments shaped the destines of certain nation-states, and economic, i.e. how trade, manufacturing, and finance all form a base for what a state can and cannot do militarily. The attention given to both these areas is comprehensive and thorough, while at the same the reader is not weighed down by endless statistics, dates, or other numbers. I personally found the economic analysis to be the most insightful part of the book, allowing the lay reader to become acquainted with the complex world of monies that is essential to a complete understanding of the time period and subject covered.
Unfortunately, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers does not provide enough information to cover the presumptuous title of the book. What is lacking is any kind of social analysis of the various situations that existed in the different nation-states examined. To ignore the underlying social forces in any one nation-state is to ignore the lives and experiences of the people who allowed the states to work, for without the cooperation of the people in fighting the wars, manufacturing the goods, and providing the labor, no state could rise to the status of world power. This is a particularly glaring omission because it is during this period that capitalism develops out of feudalism and becomes the driving force and engine of modern Europe. This economic development and the drastic changes it brought to all aspects of the different societies under examination seems to me to be a crucial factor. Without it we lack an understanding of how the inner mechanics of the societies were changed and used to the governments advantage in acquiring wealth and hence power.
To the authors’ credit, he has no illusions about the scope of is book. Indeed his goal is to focus on the two aforementioned areas and leave the others factors for other authors to investigate. Even with this acknowledgement I still felt he book to come up short. The perspective was too telescoped at the apex of power in governments, financial, and trading industries. It must be taken in to account that power was and is acquired from the labor of the people, especially so in the years covered in this book.
All in all, this book provides a good starting point for anyone interested in the subject matter. Although it is a bit dated, published 1987, it has an interesting final chapter concerning the future and the role of the current powers, their decline, and the subsequent rise of new powers to take their place. Hint, hint, the USA is not one of the rising ones. Its always fun to see whether or not an authors forecasts for the future come true. The final chapter may indeed turn out to be the best section given a few decades.
History/Political Science – 540 pages
A good book for anyone interested in an overview of nation-state history spanning the past 500 years. While definitely taking a macro approach to world history (which any attempt at a world history must take), Kennedy does a very good job in examining two of the very prominent factors that lead to rise of some powers and the subsequent decline of others. These two factors are military, i.e. how various wars and military developments shaped the destines of certain nation-states, and economic, i.e. how trade, manufacturing, and finance all form a base for what a state can and cannot do militarily. The attention given to both these areas is comprehensive and thorough, while at the same the reader is not weighed down by endless statistics, dates, or other numbers. I personally found the economic analysis to be the most insightful part of the book, allowing the lay reader to become acquainted with the complex world of monies that is essential to a complete understanding of the time period and subject covered.
Unfortunately, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers does not provide enough information to cover the presumptuous title of the book. What is lacking is any kind of social analysis of the various situations that existed in the different nation-states examined. To ignore the underlying social forces in any one nation-state is to ignore the lives and experiences of the people who allowed the states to work, for without the cooperation of the people in fighting the wars, manufacturing the goods, and providing the labor, no state could rise to the status of world power. This is a particularly glaring omission because it is during this period that capitalism develops out of feudalism and becomes the driving force and engine of modern Europe. This economic development and the drastic changes it brought to all aspects of the different societies under examination seems to me to be a crucial factor. Without it we lack an understanding of how the inner mechanics of the societies were changed and used to the governments advantage in acquiring wealth and hence power.
To the authors’ credit, he has no illusions about the scope of is book. Indeed his goal is to focus on the two aforementioned areas and leave the others factors for other authors to investigate. Even with this acknowledgement I still felt he book to come up short. The perspective was too telescoped at the apex of power in governments, financial, and trading industries. It must be taken in to account that power was and is acquired from the labor of the people, especially so in the years covered in this book.
All in all, this book provides a good starting point for anyone interested in the subject matter. Although it is a bit dated, published 1987, it has an interesting final chapter concerning the future and the role of the current powers, their decline, and the subsequent rise of new powers to take their place. Hint, hint, the USA is not one of the rising ones. Its always fun to see whether or not an authors forecasts for the future come true. The final chapter may indeed turn out to be the best section given a few decades.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
The World of Odysseus
The World of Odysseus – M. I. Finley 177 pg.
This relatively short work by the famed ancient historian M. I. Finely remains as influential and important today as it was when it was published over 30 years ago, no small feat in field that has seen major shifts in opinion over the same time period. Finley is one of those unique authors that can combine solid historical scholarship within an engaging framework that makes his works accessible to all, from the lay reader to a student of the field. I found the book to be both an interesting companion to The Odyssey as well as an interesting read in its own right, although I have been know to be a bit partial to Greek history. Regardless of ones interests, Finley is a very accessible author who consistently leaves me craving more.
The main goal of the book is too illuminate the obscure world of Greek prehistory using the later of the two major epic poems attributed to Homer, The Odyssey. Finley set himself no small task, for both the Iliad and The Odyssey have been regarded as representing a picture of the Greek Bronze Age to varying degrees since the founding of modern historical scholarship and indeed even before. What Finley proposes is a departure from this line of thought, namely that the epics of Homer recall the memory of the ‘Heroic Age of the Greeks’ that is traditionally associated with the Mycenaean civilization of the later Bronze Age. Instead he suggests that the poems represent a time closer to Homers own, thought to be c. 800-750 B. C. The time period in question is known by various names but is most often called the Greek Dark Age, the period of time between the collapse of the Mycenaean civilization c. 1200 B.C. and the onset of the Archaic Age c. 750. Through an examination of the texts in combination with modern archeological findings, Finley paints a very convincing picture of what life was like in the Mycenaean and Dark Age and how The Odyssey much more closely reflects the latter. Outlining his thesis and the marked resistance it has met from a good portion of the scholarly community, Finley methodically addresses criticisms and in a good many cases turns the table on those that would rather reject his work.
Being that the poem is concerned mainly with the exploits, travels, and trials of Odysseus, mythical King of Ithaca, the social, economic, and cultural conditions exposed are necessarily not representative of the vast majority of the people living in the society. This is something we must be content with in a comparison of text and archeology of this sort, as a rule of thumb epic poems, our only written record of the time, can have nothing to do with the lives of most people, only those at the very apex of society. Although this certainly has its limitations, any light provided for this period no matter how narrow the focus shines a bit more on all the other parts. Particularly interesting are the sections dealing with ancient economy of the ruling class, primarily characterized in a reciprocal gift giving system that conferred the most respect and power to those ruler who could give wealth away to others as ‘presents’ thereby ensuring that they owed him something when need arose. In this means wealth was accumulated in order to be dispersed in exchange for service and the acknowledgement of ones social position. An essential book for anyone trying to find the very real world that lays just beyond on the pages of western literature’s greatest epics, a world that Finely brings to life again almost as much as Homer does, if not in a different sphere.
This relatively short work by the famed ancient historian M. I. Finely remains as influential and important today as it was when it was published over 30 years ago, no small feat in field that has seen major shifts in opinion over the same time period. Finley is one of those unique authors that can combine solid historical scholarship within an engaging framework that makes his works accessible to all, from the lay reader to a student of the field. I found the book to be both an interesting companion to The Odyssey as well as an interesting read in its own right, although I have been know to be a bit partial to Greek history. Regardless of ones interests, Finley is a very accessible author who consistently leaves me craving more.
The main goal of the book is too illuminate the obscure world of Greek prehistory using the later of the two major epic poems attributed to Homer, The Odyssey. Finley set himself no small task, for both the Iliad and The Odyssey have been regarded as representing a picture of the Greek Bronze Age to varying degrees since the founding of modern historical scholarship and indeed even before. What Finley proposes is a departure from this line of thought, namely that the epics of Homer recall the memory of the ‘Heroic Age of the Greeks’ that is traditionally associated with the Mycenaean civilization of the later Bronze Age. Instead he suggests that the poems represent a time closer to Homers own, thought to be c. 800-750 B. C. The time period in question is known by various names but is most often called the Greek Dark Age, the period of time between the collapse of the Mycenaean civilization c. 1200 B.C. and the onset of the Archaic Age c. 750. Through an examination of the texts in combination with modern archeological findings, Finley paints a very convincing picture of what life was like in the Mycenaean and Dark Age and how The Odyssey much more closely reflects the latter. Outlining his thesis and the marked resistance it has met from a good portion of the scholarly community, Finley methodically addresses criticisms and in a good many cases turns the table on those that would rather reject his work.
Being that the poem is concerned mainly with the exploits, travels, and trials of Odysseus, mythical King of Ithaca, the social, economic, and cultural conditions exposed are necessarily not representative of the vast majority of the people living in the society. This is something we must be content with in a comparison of text and archeology of this sort, as a rule of thumb epic poems, our only written record of the time, can have nothing to do with the lives of most people, only those at the very apex of society. Although this certainly has its limitations, any light provided for this period no matter how narrow the focus shines a bit more on all the other parts. Particularly interesting are the sections dealing with ancient economy of the ruling class, primarily characterized in a reciprocal gift giving system that conferred the most respect and power to those ruler who could give wealth away to others as ‘presents’ thereby ensuring that they owed him something when need arose. In this means wealth was accumulated in order to be dispersed in exchange for service and the acknowledgement of ones social position. An essential book for anyone trying to find the very real world that lays just beyond on the pages of western literature’s greatest epics, a world that Finely brings to life again almost as much as Homer does, if not in a different sphere.
In Patagonia
In Patagonia – Bruce Chatwin 199pgs.
Chatwin’s account of his journey across Patagonia in the late 1970’s certainly is embellished with all the qualities of a good English romantic. His tale begins with a memory from his childhood about a piece skin that was in the procession of his grandmother. She told him that is belonged to a Brontosaurus and came from the distant land of Patagonia in the south of Argentina. It turns out that the piece of skin in question actually belonged to a Mylodon, an ancient Giant Sloth native to Patagonia, and Chatwin received his fair share of belittlement from his schoolmasters for claiming it came from a dinosaur. Still, he held a special revere for the skin though and hoped to become its caretaker one day. Unfortunately the skin was tossed out after his grandmother passed away. He never lost his fascination with the distant and mysterious land of Patagonia though and always hoped to secure a piece of Mylodon skin for himself one day.
Fast-forward about 25 years and we pick up Chatwin’s story as he arrives in Argentina, finally fulfilling his dream to visit Patagonia. His journey takes him all over modern Patagonia, if one can use the word modern in regards to the region, bouncing from town to town in search of old legends and odd tales. He investigates the haunts of the last known days of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, visits the beaches the Darwin visited during his famous voyage aboard the Beagle, even visits the famous Mylodon cave where the archaic animal’s remains were discovered.
Chatwin tells a remarkable tale and brings a nice mingling of history, myth, travel and local flavor all into one narrative. At several points he takes time to digress on several side stories that have a connection to the place he is visiting or a story that he is in the progress of rooting out. In spite of all this, or perhaps because of it, one gets the felling that all that Chatwin writes is not the stone cold truth. Certainly some areas are embellished to facilitate the flow of the narrative. Due to this it is hard to separate fact from fiction, but in a work such as this it is not especially important. Chatwin conveys the magic and mystery of the land that has for so long held a special place in his mind. He gives us a glimpse of what Patagonia has meant and stood for for generation after generation of seekers and travelers.
Chatwin’s account of his journey across Patagonia in the late 1970’s certainly is embellished with all the qualities of a good English romantic. His tale begins with a memory from his childhood about a piece skin that was in the procession of his grandmother. She told him that is belonged to a Brontosaurus and came from the distant land of Patagonia in the south of Argentina. It turns out that the piece of skin in question actually belonged to a Mylodon, an ancient Giant Sloth native to Patagonia, and Chatwin received his fair share of belittlement from his schoolmasters for claiming it came from a dinosaur. Still, he held a special revere for the skin though and hoped to become its caretaker one day. Unfortunately the skin was tossed out after his grandmother passed away. He never lost his fascination with the distant and mysterious land of Patagonia though and always hoped to secure a piece of Mylodon skin for himself one day.
Fast-forward about 25 years and we pick up Chatwin’s story as he arrives in Argentina, finally fulfilling his dream to visit Patagonia. His journey takes him all over modern Patagonia, if one can use the word modern in regards to the region, bouncing from town to town in search of old legends and odd tales. He investigates the haunts of the last known days of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, visits the beaches the Darwin visited during his famous voyage aboard the Beagle, even visits the famous Mylodon cave where the archaic animal’s remains were discovered.
Chatwin tells a remarkable tale and brings a nice mingling of history, myth, travel and local flavor all into one narrative. At several points he takes time to digress on several side stories that have a connection to the place he is visiting or a story that he is in the progress of rooting out. In spite of all this, or perhaps because of it, one gets the felling that all that Chatwin writes is not the stone cold truth. Certainly some areas are embellished to facilitate the flow of the narrative. Due to this it is hard to separate fact from fiction, but in a work such as this it is not especially important. Chatwin conveys the magic and mystery of the land that has for so long held a special place in his mind. He gives us a glimpse of what Patagonia has meant and stood for for generation after generation of seekers and travelers.
Persephon's Quest: Entheogens the Origins of Religion
Persephone’s Quest – R. Gordon Wasson, Stella Kramrisch, Jonathan Ott, Carl A. P. Ruck 256 pg.
The subtitle to this book is Entheogens and the Origins of Religion. For those not familiar with the term entheogen it literally means ‘god generated within’ and refers to the various psychoactive substances that have been used throughout history in a spiritual context. These include the mushroom cults of rural modern Mexico, the use of a soma by the ancient Indo-European Aryan culture of pre Hindi India, and even in the rites of the Eleusis ceremonies of classical Greece. As can be inferred at this point, the book concerns itself to the investigation of these different spiritual rites that appear to form an almost common theme throughout the development of religion around the world. Wasson is the driving force behind not only the book, but also the study of entheogens as a discipline around the world. His pioneering world in the field of ethnomycology and ethnobotany in the 1940’s and 50’s lead him to be the first person from the western world to partake in the sacred mushroom rituals of Mesoamerica in 1953.
The book itself is divided into two parts. The first consists of different essays from the first three authors mentioned, covering everything from analysis of the last meal of the Buddha and the connections in mythology between the lightning bolt and the mushroom to the systematic gathering of evidence across cultures and history of the widespread use of entheogens in religious rites. The second part of the book consists of three essays from Carl A. P. Ruck, a distinguished Greek scholar. As would make sense, Ruck’s essays focus a bit more intently on the relation of entheogens to ancient Greek society.
Any book that is a compilation of separate works from separate authors is inevitably going to suffer from a general lack of flow or cohesion and Persephone’s Quest is no exception. Certain parts read better than other, notably Wasson’s efforts lead the way in this regard, but as a whole the theories and ideas raised are of the prime importance. Ruck’s efforts could also be viewed as a bit tiresome, but I am a bit biased in this regard as Greek history is of immense interest and an area of study for me. Some of what Ruck describes may be lost on readers not familiar with the ancient Greek world, but then again this is the case regarding almost any area. Anyone with an interest in entheogens of psychedelics in the parlance of recreational usage will do themselves well to read this book.
It certainly holds a great deal of relevance for today’s world and can in fact still be seen in some of the worlds great religions such as Hinduism, where often times a surrogate has replaced the original entheogen, in the Hindu case soma was replaced with the putka mushroom, which is not psychoactive. The simple fact that the use of entheogens was/is so widespread throughout human history is a reason to study it and the current prejudice held against such substances by many academics and authority figures is completely unfounded. It seems almost to be part of a larger movement within a certain section of society that is willing to dismiss the scientific-analytical approach to such diverse topics as global warming, evolution, stem cell research and other so called ‘controversial’ topics. In fact it seems to me that this dismissal of reason is usually coming from some sort of religion inspired dogma.
In light of this the book will probably not be accepted very warmly in religious circles, which is unfortunate. What is maybe more unfortunate is that the will the part of society that readily accepts the side of reason in most of the aforementioned topics continues to persist by in large to a wholesale rejection of examining entheogens and their importance in the development of human civilization. This book is a good start to hopefully change the popular perception on these remarkable substances.
The subtitle to this book is Entheogens and the Origins of Religion. For those not familiar with the term entheogen it literally means ‘god generated within’ and refers to the various psychoactive substances that have been used throughout history in a spiritual context. These include the mushroom cults of rural modern Mexico, the use of a soma by the ancient Indo-European Aryan culture of pre Hindi India, and even in the rites of the Eleusis ceremonies of classical Greece. As can be inferred at this point, the book concerns itself to the investigation of these different spiritual rites that appear to form an almost common theme throughout the development of religion around the world. Wasson is the driving force behind not only the book, but also the study of entheogens as a discipline around the world. His pioneering world in the field of ethnomycology and ethnobotany in the 1940’s and 50’s lead him to be the first person from the western world to partake in the sacred mushroom rituals of Mesoamerica in 1953.
The book itself is divided into two parts. The first consists of different essays from the first three authors mentioned, covering everything from analysis of the last meal of the Buddha and the connections in mythology between the lightning bolt and the mushroom to the systematic gathering of evidence across cultures and history of the widespread use of entheogens in religious rites. The second part of the book consists of three essays from Carl A. P. Ruck, a distinguished Greek scholar. As would make sense, Ruck’s essays focus a bit more intently on the relation of entheogens to ancient Greek society.
Any book that is a compilation of separate works from separate authors is inevitably going to suffer from a general lack of flow or cohesion and Persephone’s Quest is no exception. Certain parts read better than other, notably Wasson’s efforts lead the way in this regard, but as a whole the theories and ideas raised are of the prime importance. Ruck’s efforts could also be viewed as a bit tiresome, but I am a bit biased in this regard as Greek history is of immense interest and an area of study for me. Some of what Ruck describes may be lost on readers not familiar with the ancient Greek world, but then again this is the case regarding almost any area. Anyone with an interest in entheogens of psychedelics in the parlance of recreational usage will do themselves well to read this book.
It certainly holds a great deal of relevance for today’s world and can in fact still be seen in some of the worlds great religions such as Hinduism, where often times a surrogate has replaced the original entheogen, in the Hindu case soma was replaced with the putka mushroom, which is not psychoactive. The simple fact that the use of entheogens was/is so widespread throughout human history is a reason to study it and the current prejudice held against such substances by many academics and authority figures is completely unfounded. It seems almost to be part of a larger movement within a certain section of society that is willing to dismiss the scientific-analytical approach to such diverse topics as global warming, evolution, stem cell research and other so called ‘controversial’ topics. In fact it seems to me that this dismissal of reason is usually coming from some sort of religion inspired dogma.
In light of this the book will probably not be accepted very warmly in religious circles, which is unfortunate. What is maybe more unfortunate is that the will the part of society that readily accepts the side of reason in most of the aforementioned topics continues to persist by in large to a wholesale rejection of examining entheogens and their importance in the development of human civilization. This book is a good start to hopefully change the popular perception on these remarkable substances.
The Life of Pi
The Life of Pi – Yann Mantel 319 pgs.
So I finally took a crack at this book after hearing so much about it from various people, the first being my mom I believe. Modern fiction is certainly not my preferred choice when it comes to something to read; in fact fiction in general usually takes a backseat to nonfiction for me. I am conscious however that limiting oneself to only one area of interest only serves to narrow the field of vision and perspective. In light of this I try to dabble in various areas, fiction and non-, new and old, technical and general in pursuit of the universal ideal of knowledge expressed by some of the great ancients of the past as well as some more recent adherents, particularly Hermann Hesse.
The Life of Pi first and foremost was a quick read, it took me about 2 days. This is a surefire sign of at least an engaging book, one that draws the reader into it and almost forces them to keep reading. Secondly the topic of the book dealt with, mainly religious synthesis, reason, and ever-changing conceptions of thought systems employed throughout time, is an extremely interesting topic to me. The study of religion has always been intriguing, if not for the insight it provides into so many contemporary issues today then it is for the rich history that comes hand in hand with almost all religions. Mantel makes the case that reason should be included in the category of religion, for although it has no godhead at its apex, it is an attempt to explain life and the world around us in absolute terms, something that unfortunately has continually escaped human grasp. Armed with the thought system of reason to explain the world around them, rationalists are necessarily putting their faith in reason as the means to explain everything, which it does not. In this view reason is just a substitute for religion in answering the questions that humans have pondered over for thousands of years.
The story is an intriguing one. Pi Pental has grown up around animals, water, and religion all his life. His father is a zookeeper in a part of southern India that used to be a French colony. His whole family has been involved with zoo and the upkeep of the animals as long as he can remember. A friend of the family, a former champion swimmer, has taught Pi to swim, something Pi takes to with pride as no one else in his family can do. From a few early chance encounters with Christianity and Islam, Pi becomes incredibly interested and invested in the religions, as well as his own native Hinduism.
All seems to be going well for Pi in life when his parents decide they have had enough of the life and government in India. Pi and his brother are informed that the decision has been made to move with all the animals to Canada where zoos are more appreciated and life holds more opportunities. The family makes their preparations to leave and sets off on the voyage that will change Pi’s life forever. Somewhere in the middle of the Pacific the cargo ship Pi and his family are riding on with the animals sinks in a storm leaving Pi stranded on a lifeboat together with a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena, and a Bengal tiger. It is at this point the struggle between faith and reason emerges. The allegorical potential is certainly abounds in such a situation with such a topic, but as with any good allegory the surface story is entertaining in its own right.
So, does Mantle believe in the supremacy of reason over religion? Well the main character of his book is an adherent of three different and seemingly conflicting faiths, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. The fact that Pi draws on his faith continually throughout his many ordeals and uses it to overcome situations at which reason balks says a lot about what Mantel thinks. I don’t think abandoning reason is ever suggested, simply the point that reason is a good and useful tool for understanding the world, but that it can only take one so far.
The book is definitely worth the read and provokes some interesting thoughts. On top of that it is a pretty good story to boot. The only knock I can give it is that the plot is reminiscent of a similar story involving a lone soul on a boat in the middle of the ocean tackling spiritual questions. Did you guess it? The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway. I would say there is a pretty good chance that Mantel has read this book once or twice before coming up with his own story. The footsteps of Hemingway aren’t bad ones to be following in though.
So I finally took a crack at this book after hearing so much about it from various people, the first being my mom I believe. Modern fiction is certainly not my preferred choice when it comes to something to read; in fact fiction in general usually takes a backseat to nonfiction for me. I am conscious however that limiting oneself to only one area of interest only serves to narrow the field of vision and perspective. In light of this I try to dabble in various areas, fiction and non-, new and old, technical and general in pursuit of the universal ideal of knowledge expressed by some of the great ancients of the past as well as some more recent adherents, particularly Hermann Hesse.
The Life of Pi first and foremost was a quick read, it took me about 2 days. This is a surefire sign of at least an engaging book, one that draws the reader into it and almost forces them to keep reading. Secondly the topic of the book dealt with, mainly religious synthesis, reason, and ever-changing conceptions of thought systems employed throughout time, is an extremely interesting topic to me. The study of religion has always been intriguing, if not for the insight it provides into so many contemporary issues today then it is for the rich history that comes hand in hand with almost all religions. Mantel makes the case that reason should be included in the category of religion, for although it has no godhead at its apex, it is an attempt to explain life and the world around us in absolute terms, something that unfortunately has continually escaped human grasp. Armed with the thought system of reason to explain the world around them, rationalists are necessarily putting their faith in reason as the means to explain everything, which it does not. In this view reason is just a substitute for religion in answering the questions that humans have pondered over for thousands of years.
The story is an intriguing one. Pi Pental has grown up around animals, water, and religion all his life. His father is a zookeeper in a part of southern India that used to be a French colony. His whole family has been involved with zoo and the upkeep of the animals as long as he can remember. A friend of the family, a former champion swimmer, has taught Pi to swim, something Pi takes to with pride as no one else in his family can do. From a few early chance encounters with Christianity and Islam, Pi becomes incredibly interested and invested in the religions, as well as his own native Hinduism.
All seems to be going well for Pi in life when his parents decide they have had enough of the life and government in India. Pi and his brother are informed that the decision has been made to move with all the animals to Canada where zoos are more appreciated and life holds more opportunities. The family makes their preparations to leave and sets off on the voyage that will change Pi’s life forever. Somewhere in the middle of the Pacific the cargo ship Pi and his family are riding on with the animals sinks in a storm leaving Pi stranded on a lifeboat together with a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena, and a Bengal tiger. It is at this point the struggle between faith and reason emerges. The allegorical potential is certainly abounds in such a situation with such a topic, but as with any good allegory the surface story is entertaining in its own right.
So, does Mantle believe in the supremacy of reason over religion? Well the main character of his book is an adherent of three different and seemingly conflicting faiths, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. The fact that Pi draws on his faith continually throughout his many ordeals and uses it to overcome situations at which reason balks says a lot about what Mantel thinks. I don’t think abandoning reason is ever suggested, simply the point that reason is a good and useful tool for understanding the world, but that it can only take one so far.
The book is definitely worth the read and provokes some interesting thoughts. On top of that it is a pretty good story to boot. The only knock I can give it is that the plot is reminiscent of a similar story involving a lone soul on a boat in the middle of the ocean tackling spiritual questions. Did you guess it? The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway. I would say there is a pretty good chance that Mantel has read this book once or twice before coming up with his own story. The footsteps of Hemingway aren’t bad ones to be following in though.
The Alchemist
The Alchemist –Paulo Coelho 167 pgs.
Coelho’s classic tale ranks as one of the best travel books of all time. As with any other great travel story the voyage is not simply a physical one but a personal and spiritual one as well. The book follows the wanderings of the young Spaniard Santiago. Struck by the desire to see the world at a young age, Santiago leaves his family to take up the life roaming life of a shepherd. After exploring the rolling hills and pastures of southern Spain for two years a series of strange events lead Santiago to sell his flock and set out in quest of his own personal legend. The resulting journey is a classic description of one persons attempt to find the meaning of his life.
Coelho’s writing is heavily influenced by his own personal understanding of religion and spirituality. Often such authors find a narrower audience for their work because of this, but this is not the case with Coelho. His words take on a sense of universalism that seems to transcend any one set of beliefs. This is due to the mystical quality that permeates his writings and thoughts, the belief that the world and everything in it and outside of it share connections that at first glance are hard to discern.
His words are also very personal in nature and one often has the impression that Coelho’s characters share something with oneself. To be able to write about something that everyone already knows but to present it in a new form is the key to being a great writer and this is what Coelho does so well. He taps into some general truths or human universals that everyone can relate to, something that one has felt but not known how to organize in any systematic fashion. In this way his stories are not only about the characters contained on the pages, but also about the reader who is holding the book.
It is not the most profound book you will ever read but it will make you take a step back and view your life a bit differently. Sometimes the most important things are the simplest ones.
Coelho’s classic tale ranks as one of the best travel books of all time. As with any other great travel story the voyage is not simply a physical one but a personal and spiritual one as well. The book follows the wanderings of the young Spaniard Santiago. Struck by the desire to see the world at a young age, Santiago leaves his family to take up the life roaming life of a shepherd. After exploring the rolling hills and pastures of southern Spain for two years a series of strange events lead Santiago to sell his flock and set out in quest of his own personal legend. The resulting journey is a classic description of one persons attempt to find the meaning of his life.
Coelho’s writing is heavily influenced by his own personal understanding of religion and spirituality. Often such authors find a narrower audience for their work because of this, but this is not the case with Coelho. His words take on a sense of universalism that seems to transcend any one set of beliefs. This is due to the mystical quality that permeates his writings and thoughts, the belief that the world and everything in it and outside of it share connections that at first glance are hard to discern.
His words are also very personal in nature and one often has the impression that Coelho’s characters share something with oneself. To be able to write about something that everyone already knows but to present it in a new form is the key to being a great writer and this is what Coelho does so well. He taps into some general truths or human universals that everyone can relate to, something that one has felt but not known how to organize in any systematic fashion. In this way his stories are not only about the characters contained on the pages, but also about the reader who is holding the book.
It is not the most profound book you will ever read but it will make you take a step back and view your life a bit differently. Sometimes the most important things are the simplest ones.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Fear and Loathing in America: The Gonzo Letters, Vol. 11 1968-1976 The Brutal Odyssey of an Outlaw Journalist – Hunter S. Thompson 730 pg.
The second installment in HST’s selected letters, Fear & Loathing in America has proved to be a fascinating read. Beginning in the 1950’s, HST keep carbon copies of all his letters for filing purposes in the belief that one day he would be a famous writer and his correspondence would be published. Like so many other Thompson predictions, this one proved true. The range and scope of the letters contained in this volume is simply amazing. HST had contacts and correspondence across almost every section of American society from Jimmy Carter, Pat Buchan, Gorge McGovern, and Walter Mondale at one end of the spectrum to Ken Kesey, Tom Wolfe, Jann Wenner, and Oscar Acosta at the other end.
The time period covered by these letters have proven to be a crucial period in modern history and nobody should be without a view from HST’s side of things. From the 68’ Democratic National Convention to the 75’ American withdrawal from Vietnam, the Mint 400 in Vegas to his own personal bid to run for Sheriff of Pitkin County (Aspen) on the Mescaline ticket, HST was there and more often than not part of the action. In this regards his letters read like a quasi-autobiography, tracing the twists and turns of his life throughout this turbulent period of American history. For the creator of Gonzo Journalism, this was his defining period. Perhaps the best way to get an understanding of the book would to read a few excerpts.
“But as I grow older and meaner and uglier it becomes more & more clear to me that only a lunatic or an egomaniacal asshole would try to impose the structure of his own lifestyle on people who don’t entirely understand it, unless he’s ready to assume personal responsibility for the consequences.” (584) - How relevant is that today? Maybe Bush should brush up on his HST before he starts his next war.
“You decadent pig. Where the f*** do you get the nerve to go around telling those wops that I’m crazy? You worthless c***. My Italian tour is already arranged for next spring & and I’m going to the whole goddamn trip wearing a bright red field marshal’s uniform & accompanied by six speed-freak bodyguards bristling with mace bombs & when I start talking about American writers & the name Tom Wolfe comes up, by god, you’re going to wish you were born a f***ing iguana!” (373) HST writing his old buddy Tom Wolfe.
“America is really Amerika” (342)
Well I think you get the point by now and if not, well than I guessed you never will. So read this book when you get the chance or anything else by HST for that matter. For me he is the best American writer of the last 50 years.
The time period covered by these letters have proven to be a crucial period in modern history and nobody should be without a view from HST’s side of things. From the 68’ Democratic National Convention to the 75’ American withdrawal from Vietnam, the Mint 400 in Vegas to his own personal bid to run for Sheriff of Pitkin County (Aspen) on the Mescaline ticket, HST was there and more often than not part of the action. In this regards his letters read like a quasi-autobiography, tracing the twists and turns of his life throughout this turbulent period of American history. For the creator of Gonzo Journalism, this was his defining period. Perhaps the best way to get an understanding of the book would to read a few excerpts.
“But as I grow older and meaner and uglier it becomes more & more clear to me that only a lunatic or an egomaniacal asshole would try to impose the structure of his own lifestyle on people who don’t entirely understand it, unless he’s ready to assume personal responsibility for the consequences.” (584) - How relevant is that today? Maybe Bush should brush up on his HST before he starts his next war.
“You decadent pig. Where the f*** do you get the nerve to go around telling those wops that I’m crazy? You worthless c***. My Italian tour is already arranged for next spring & and I’m going to the whole goddamn trip wearing a bright red field marshal’s uniform & accompanied by six speed-freak bodyguards bristling with mace bombs & when I start talking about American writers & the name Tom Wolfe comes up, by god, you’re going to wish you were born a f***ing iguana!” (373) HST writing his old buddy Tom Wolfe.
“America is really Amerika” (342)
Well I think you get the point by now and if not, well than I guessed you never will. So read this book when you get the chance or anything else by HST for that matter. For me he is the best American writer of the last 50 years.
Bad Times in Buenos Aires – Miranda France 199 pgs.
The title of this book is a bit deceiving. It is a chronicle of the experiences (both good and bad) of an Englishwoman journalist in Buenos Aires in the mid 1990’s. Not really knowing what to expect from this book, I figured that reading anything I could get my hands before moving to BsAs myself. It turned out that I was pleasantly surprised and found myself laughing out loud at points, always a sure fire sign of a good read. Using the experiences of her everyday life in BA as a framework to build off of, France interweaves hilarious anecdotes of daily life in BA, provides glimpses into the BA residents (they are known as Porteños) psyche, and gives an account of the all too often bloody history of Argentina. Although the France complains about the various short comings of BA, the chronic lack of coins, the crossed wires of the telephone system, the endless queues for anything and everything (all of which are still very much true), you can definitely tell that she has developed a soft spot in her heart for unique quirks that make BA what it is.
Argentina at the turn of the 20th century was the sixth richest country in the world behind the USA and the leading European powers. With so much promise for a grand future and such failure to achieve anything close to the possibilities it is no wonder the events of the subsequent hundred years are filled with political and economic instability. The rise and fall of Juan and Evita Peron, the various military dictatorships and the infamous ‘Dirty War’ of the 1970’s that accounted for the disappearance of tens of thousands of Argentines all invoke strong emotions that still reside just under the surface of Argentine life, often times coming directly to the forefront. France explores this common history and the effect it has had on the Argentine people. One possible result is the number of psychoanalysts in BsAs; per capita there is more than three times as many in BsAs than there are in New York City. Apparently it is a Porteño pastime to be psycho analyzed, indeed many find it hard to accept life without it, often working two or three jobs in order to pay for analysis.
For me this book gave me an idea of what to expect when I arrived here in the Paris of the South as it is often called. Although it speaks of a BsAs about 10 years past, it excited my imagination and curiosity in this giant Latin American city, the home of the Tango. The Tango is a sad genre speaking of lost loves, suicides, murder, and betrayal; a fitting theme for the constantly melancholy Porteños, something that really catches the essence of the people. France describes the dance, if done correctly, as passionate and loveless as a one-night stand.
Although I have found through my own experience some of France’s tales have been embellished a bit for dramatic affect, the book provided me with a decent idea of what to expect once I arrived. Since France wrote Argentina suffered a terrible economic crisis in 2001 that sent the country reeling for years and it has had noticeable effects on all levels of society. Today Argentina is moving forward again and prosperity is returning, but it must be realized that much more than a decade has passed between 1997 and 2007.
Argentina at the turn of the 20th century was the sixth richest country in the world behind the USA and the leading European powers. With so much promise for a grand future and such failure to achieve anything close to the possibilities it is no wonder the events of the subsequent hundred years are filled with political and economic instability. The rise and fall of Juan and Evita Peron, the various military dictatorships and the infamous ‘Dirty War’ of the 1970’s that accounted for the disappearance of tens of thousands of Argentines all invoke strong emotions that still reside just under the surface of Argentine life, often times coming directly to the forefront. France explores this common history and the effect it has had on the Argentine people. One possible result is the number of psychoanalysts in BsAs; per capita there is more than three times as many in BsAs than there are in New York City. Apparently it is a Porteño pastime to be psycho analyzed, indeed many find it hard to accept life without it, often working two or three jobs in order to pay for analysis.
For me this book gave me an idea of what to expect when I arrived here in the Paris of the South as it is often called. Although it speaks of a BsAs about 10 years past, it excited my imagination and curiosity in this giant Latin American city, the home of the Tango. The Tango is a sad genre speaking of lost loves, suicides, murder, and betrayal; a fitting theme for the constantly melancholy Porteños, something that really catches the essence of the people. France describes the dance, if done correctly, as passionate and loveless as a one-night stand.
Although I have found through my own experience some of France’s tales have been embellished a bit for dramatic affect, the book provided me with a decent idea of what to expect once I arrived. Since France wrote Argentina suffered a terrible economic crisis in 2001 that sent the country reeling for years and it has had noticeable effects on all levels of society. Today Argentina is moving forward again and prosperity is returning, but it must be realized that much more than a decade has passed between 1997 and 2007.
Hegemony or Survival: America’s Quest for Global Dominance – Noam Chomsky
Wow. This book is simply fantastic in my opinion. As critique of U.S. foreign policy for the past 50 year, the writing is exceptional for its clarity and depth. Chomsky methodically picks apart the multiple aspects of foreign relations: economic, military, cultural, and places them within the grand context of America’s strategic aims for maintains its role as leader of the world. Dismissing what is said on governments behalf and focusing on the much more accurate indicator of actions, a clear and coherent picture emerges; the U.S. will stop at nothing to maintain its power and influence around the globe. Denouncing terror one hand while supporting it when it serves an interest, preaching democracy abroad while limiting it as much as possible at home, promising aid for development while ensuring its main effect is financial return at the developing country’s expense; the goes on and Chomsky never runs out of examples taken from the last 50 years to prove his points.
I have been introduced to Chomsky before mainly through his work in linguistics and from listening to a few of his speeches, but this book took it to a whole new level. To my knowledge there is no one else currently writing in the U.S. that can reproduce the criticisms that Chomsky raises, whether it be on the level of clearly laid down arguments, depth of research, or the ability to see things for what they really are. I can’t remember who said the quote “A true historian can have no country” but I can think of no one better to apply this to than Chomsky, perhaps replacing historian with observer of international affairs.
Anyone with any interest in the world, the U.S. role in it, international relations, and the reasons behind the antagonism felt by much of the world towards the U.S. should read this book. Even those who are ardent supporters of U.S. policy would do well to give it a go if only to be brought up to date with the most challenging arguments against it. I have engaged in conversations with a few such people and they have always faltered when I brought up the points raised in the book. I now Hugo Chavez is a fan, he brought the book (Spanish translation of course) to the U.N. when he addressed the general assembly and said that anyone who wanted to know what was happening in the world today simple had to read Chomsky to understand. Getting that kind of endorsement is pretty telling; a head of state on the largest international stage is the kind of publicity one cannot buy. Perhaps I should just leave you with that.
I have been introduced to Chomsky before mainly through his work in linguistics and from listening to a few of his speeches, but this book took it to a whole new level. To my knowledge there is no one else currently writing in the U.S. that can reproduce the criticisms that Chomsky raises, whether it be on the level of clearly laid down arguments, depth of research, or the ability to see things for what they really are. I can’t remember who said the quote “A true historian can have no country” but I can think of no one better to apply this to than Chomsky, perhaps replacing historian with observer of international affairs.
Anyone with any interest in the world, the U.S. role in it, international relations, and the reasons behind the antagonism felt by much of the world towards the U.S. should read this book. Even those who are ardent supporters of U.S. policy would do well to give it a go if only to be brought up to date with the most challenging arguments against it. I have engaged in conversations with a few such people and they have always faltered when I brought up the points raised in the book. I now Hugo Chavez is a fan, he brought the book (Spanish translation of course) to the U.N. when he addressed the general assembly and said that anyone who wanted to know what was happening in the world today simple had to read Chomsky to understand. Getting that kind of endorsement is pretty telling; a head of state on the largest international stage is the kind of publicity one cannot buy. Perhaps I should just leave you with that.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
A HST Classic
Hunter S. Thompson – Fear & Loathing: On the Campaign Trail ’72 505 pg.
Another classic from HST, in fact maybe my favorite work I have read of his so far, but its hard to choose. The setting for the book is the presidential campaign of 1972 pitting Gorge McGovern against Richard Millhouse Nixon. Hunter is sent by Rolling Stone to be the Washington D.C. correspondent for the magazine. Aside from running the National Affairs Desk, HST provides his own unique perspective on what it is like to be out there on the campaign trail. Starting with his coverage of the Democratic primaries and running all the way to the nomination of McGovern at the DMC, HST gives the inside story on what is happening ‘out there’ on the campaign trail, something the straight press can never do because of restrictions like ‘objectivity’ and the like. The result is perhaps the best account to date on what is really going on behind the scenes of a campaign for the highest office in the land.
The only drawback about reading HST is that it always gives me an incredible urge to drink and act in a semi-crazed style. I don’t know what it is, but it always results in me consuming at least a few beers if not more. And with a hunger to find a mescaline dealer, but I haven’t seen one of them wandering around for quite some time. Maybe I’m just not looking hard enough…. Ok, I seemed to have digressed there. I just trying to say that this book is essential reading for anyone interested in politics and the machinery behind it. Even if politics aren’t your cup up tea, HST brings a new dimension to any subject that he writes about, one that can be appreciated for its raw truth as well as its unconventional delivery.
Another classic from HST, in fact maybe my favorite work I have read of his so far, but its hard to choose. The setting for the book is the presidential campaign of 1972 pitting Gorge McGovern against Richard Millhouse Nixon. Hunter is sent by Rolling Stone to be the Washington D.C. correspondent for the magazine. Aside from running the National Affairs Desk, HST provides his own unique perspective on what it is like to be out there on the campaign trail. Starting with his coverage of the Democratic primaries and running all the way to the nomination of McGovern at the DMC, HST gives the inside story on what is happening ‘out there’ on the campaign trail, something the straight press can never do because of restrictions like ‘objectivity’ and the like. The result is perhaps the best account to date on what is really going on behind the scenes of a campaign for the highest office in the land.
The only drawback about reading HST is that it always gives me an incredible urge to drink and act in a semi-crazed style. I don’t know what it is, but it always results in me consuming at least a few beers if not more. And with a hunger to find a mescaline dealer, but I haven’t seen one of them wandering around for quite some time. Maybe I’m just not looking hard enough…. Ok, I seemed to have digressed there. I just trying to say that this book is essential reading for anyone interested in politics and the machinery behind it. Even if politics aren’t your cup up tea, HST brings a new dimension to any subject that he writes about, one that can be appreciated for its raw truth as well as its unconventional delivery.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century
A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century – Barbara W. Tuchman 597 pgs.
I have to say that this book turned out to be a really nice surprise. I found it in a used bookshop in Buenos Aires for 10 pesos and thought what the hell, I already knew a bit about the 14th century from a class I took in university and figured I could stand to learn a bit more. As soon as I began reading it I knew I had found a rarity among history books, an interesting read and actually exciting read! This stems from the style employed by Tuchman. Having chosen the area she wanted to cover, namely Western Europe in the 14th century, she needed something to provide a focus and uniting thread. For this she took the somewhat unusual approach of selecting not a person of royalty, a religious figure, or a member of the lower social class, but a noble that has the advantage of straddling in various ways all three of the aforementioned roles. Her noble, the Lord of Coucy, holding lands in the realm of northern France in the area of Picardy was an extraordinary figure by any consideration, involved in almost all the major military, political, and religious events of his. Of course it helped his cause that the three spheres so often, if not always overlapped in his day. Come to think of it, it still seems like those three spheres overlap quite often in our own age. Funny how history has a way repeating itself, or as it has been said, history never repeats itself, men always do.
The 14th century was a time of profound change and upheaval for the people of Europe. A long and destructive war was waged between the Kingdoms of England and France, known to posterity as the Hundred Years War, which was to leave both countries and much of Europe devastated long after the fighting had stopped. During the middle of the century a new terror descended on all the peoples of Europe, the Black Death or Bubonic Plague. Sparing neither rich nor poor, devout nor unbeliever, the great wave of death that swept through Europe multiple times in the last half of the century killed around half the total population, which was not to recover its 1300 level until around the 1550’s. So terrible was the Black Death and its consequences that it was simply known as the ‘great mortality’ to the people of the day. To throw one more destabilizing agent in the mix, the later half of the 14th century also gave rise to the Pope’s leaving of Rome in favor of a new residence in southern France at Avigion. This eventually lead to what is known as the papal schism, where for a time there were rival claimants to the papacy with one residing in Rome and one in Avigion, with the countries of Europe forced to take sides between them. For a time there were even three Popes at once. In a world destroyed by war and death, people looked to God for answers and when they found a split Church more corrupted and ungodly than ever change was only just around the corner.
Tuchman does a wonderful job of tying together the major events of the time around a narrative centered on Coucy. More often than not he is certainly a part of these events. Throughout the narrative are sprinkled social, economical, religious, and further historical background, painting a vivid picture of the life in France and England, and to a lesser extent the Italian states, the Holy Roman Empire and the Iberian kingdoms at the time. To this extent I think that Tuchman’s book is a success. As with all narrative histories though there are evitable flaws. To say that one event leads to another in an continuous flow of cause and effect, especially when it is centered around one character, is to deny and miss a lot of areas where a constant interaction of multiple forces help to shape and form that particular time in history. The tendency shown by Tuchman to attribute actions to individual leaders personalities and whims seems to me to be a throwback to the ancient historians of the classical world.
Another flaw that I see is the taking the life of a noble as a representation of the time. A noble by definition is a person set apart from the masses of humanity. To think that the Lord of Coucy or any of his associates in anyway represents what most people of the time experienced is to be deceived. He was primarily concerned with his own class, namely the ruling class, and the power that was derived from the position. Tuchman does much to paint him as a brilliant, enlightened man ahead of his time in many ways. That may be true to some extent but it is nevertheless also true that he used all the means available to him to exploit those of a lower class, as did all in the ruling class.
Even though I have criticisms for the book, I still believe it carried out its function well, namely to illuminate that age of European history often known as the Dark Ages. The choice of narrative as the vehicle for the history has its limitations as stated above but it also has many positives as well. Anyone looking to gain a preliminary understanding of this very eventful time would do well to pick up Tuchman’s book. I can only guarantee that it will whet the appetite for deeper search into the age.
I have to say that this book turned out to be a really nice surprise. I found it in a used bookshop in Buenos Aires for 10 pesos and thought what the hell, I already knew a bit about the 14th century from a class I took in university and figured I could stand to learn a bit more. As soon as I began reading it I knew I had found a rarity among history books, an interesting read and actually exciting read! This stems from the style employed by Tuchman. Having chosen the area she wanted to cover, namely Western Europe in the 14th century, she needed something to provide a focus and uniting thread. For this she took the somewhat unusual approach of selecting not a person of royalty, a religious figure, or a member of the lower social class, but a noble that has the advantage of straddling in various ways all three of the aforementioned roles. Her noble, the Lord of Coucy, holding lands in the realm of northern France in the area of Picardy was an extraordinary figure by any consideration, involved in almost all the major military, political, and religious events of his. Of course it helped his cause that the three spheres so often, if not always overlapped in his day. Come to think of it, it still seems like those three spheres overlap quite often in our own age. Funny how history has a way repeating itself, or as it has been said, history never repeats itself, men always do.
The 14th century was a time of profound change and upheaval for the people of Europe. A long and destructive war was waged between the Kingdoms of England and France, known to posterity as the Hundred Years War, which was to leave both countries and much of Europe devastated long after the fighting had stopped. During the middle of the century a new terror descended on all the peoples of Europe, the Black Death or Bubonic Plague. Sparing neither rich nor poor, devout nor unbeliever, the great wave of death that swept through Europe multiple times in the last half of the century killed around half the total population, which was not to recover its 1300 level until around the 1550’s. So terrible was the Black Death and its consequences that it was simply known as the ‘great mortality’ to the people of the day. To throw one more destabilizing agent in the mix, the later half of the 14th century also gave rise to the Pope’s leaving of Rome in favor of a new residence in southern France at Avigion. This eventually lead to what is known as the papal schism, where for a time there were rival claimants to the papacy with one residing in Rome and one in Avigion, with the countries of Europe forced to take sides between them. For a time there were even three Popes at once. In a world destroyed by war and death, people looked to God for answers and when they found a split Church more corrupted and ungodly than ever change was only just around the corner.
Tuchman does a wonderful job of tying together the major events of the time around a narrative centered on Coucy. More often than not he is certainly a part of these events. Throughout the narrative are sprinkled social, economical, religious, and further historical background, painting a vivid picture of the life in France and England, and to a lesser extent the Italian states, the Holy Roman Empire and the Iberian kingdoms at the time. To this extent I think that Tuchman’s book is a success. As with all narrative histories though there are evitable flaws. To say that one event leads to another in an continuous flow of cause and effect, especially when it is centered around one character, is to deny and miss a lot of areas where a constant interaction of multiple forces help to shape and form that particular time in history. The tendency shown by Tuchman to attribute actions to individual leaders personalities and whims seems to me to be a throwback to the ancient historians of the classical world.
Another flaw that I see is the taking the life of a noble as a representation of the time. A noble by definition is a person set apart from the masses of humanity. To think that the Lord of Coucy or any of his associates in anyway represents what most people of the time experienced is to be deceived. He was primarily concerned with his own class, namely the ruling class, and the power that was derived from the position. Tuchman does much to paint him as a brilliant, enlightened man ahead of his time in many ways. That may be true to some extent but it is nevertheless also true that he used all the means available to him to exploit those of a lower class, as did all in the ruling class.
Even though I have criticisms for the book, I still believe it carried out its function well, namely to illuminate that age of European history often known as the Dark Ages. The choice of narrative as the vehicle for the history has its limitations as stated above but it also has many positives as well. Anyone looking to gain a preliminary understanding of this very eventful time would do well to pick up Tuchman’s book. I can only guarantee that it will whet the appetite for deeper search into the age.
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