an anachronism? (Ark Royal)

[Eric Alan Weinstein, Centre For English Studies, University Of London]

>Actually there are a number of acronisms among Pynchon's "facts". 
 (2) the Ark Royal (p.429) 
>was a British aircraft carrier sunk in November 1941, yet is mentioned as 
>being around much later.

     I fear this shall not be of much interest, but heregoes: 
    There is presently a British Navy Aircraft Carrier called the Ark Royal.
I've seen the thing on tele recently. It looks like a huge floating out-of-town 
shopping centre with Gatwick Airport on its roof. I wonder when it was 
rebuilt? Before the end of the war, or well after it?  I guess well after,
because
 its hard to imagine something of quite this absurd magnitude happening before 
the last quarter-centuary.  Yet, there is a long shot chance... for I
believe this
new Ark Royal is ment to be on its third or forth re-fit. Surely the Gov 
couldn't afford to do this more than every dozen years or so?

E.A.Weinstein at qmw.ac.uk 

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