Also, I like the Brueghel. It sets an interesting tone for this project.
Friday 3 April 2009
OK! Sal knows, but I work in a bookstore, and tried to rescue 'Finnegan Wake' from the Returns pile (we hadn't sold a copy in three years). Much to my chagrin, I was too late, so a copy is on order with the publisher, and should arrive shortly. I hope it will. It'll probably be a weekend of Joyce for me!
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I think Brueghel's a pretty good guy, and I do all I can to support the Netherlandic people. I've already seen a handful of Dutch language references, just going through chapter 1.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely makes sense that Babel and the fall (in all its derivations) is key imagery in this book. Paul Auster definitely uses Babel - in a frightening way - in 'City of Glass' where Peter Stilman fils is placed into a dark room and isn't allowed to hear anyone speak because Peter Stilman pere wants to know if the voice of God will come out of his son due to this experiement.
Does Dame Byatt work her wonders on the Babel myth?
Oh, indeed she does. The aptly titled 'Babel Tower' (the third installment of the quartet) works with the myth. It functions on several levels, actually. And given that Byatt has great visual capacities and talents (though, she cannot hear music), Brueghel is a feature as well.
ReplyDeleteDelightful. I do admire that old broad.
I'd be interested to hear how she does it. Or her interpretation of Babel and how it relates to a woman's story.
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