pynchon-l-digest V1 #617

[Sojourner]

At 01:36 PM 6/5/97 -0400, you wrote:
>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
>
>
>

/me cries.

Yes, there has been plenty of discussion of this.  I don't have it on file,
but I'm sure a kind fellow subscriber will fill you in with the list's
findings so far.