pynchon-l-digest V1 #617

[JULIUS RAPER]

I haven't been keeping up with list-mail and you've likely gone over this:
my copy of M&D when jacketed and closed reads:

				SON

				 &

				XON

I read this has "Son and Hon" as though translating the Greek X into the
English approximate, H.  Read thus, it foreshadows the dedication and
suggests a more "autobiographical" novel than previous TRP works, a sort
of secret autobiography in the form of a historical novel, in some ways
the reverse of Barth's recent Once upon a Time, which calls itself an
autobiography (as I recollect, writing as I am without either book at
hand) but obviously is more fiction than confession.
	Having noticed this (secret?) title, I don't know exactly where to
take it, except perhaps to pay attention to the cozy, family-storytelling
aspects of the book, including its exaggerated tall-tale elements.
	Any suggestions out there?
				Best, JRR