GRGR(4): Episode 12

[Mark Wright AIA]

Howdy

--- Jeremy Osner <jeremy at xyris.com> wrote:

> 
> p. 72-3 "At 'The White Visitation' the walls read
> ice." and successive
> ice references
> I can't for the life of me figure out what this
> means. Is there a "chill
> in the air"? is it sterile and lifeless? I had
> another idea this
> morning, but I lost it. Gimme.

The walls of the building are glazed with ice.

> 
> p. 73 "the ancient Abbey, its roof long ago taken at
> the manic whim of
> Henry VIII"
> This sounds suspiciously like a Historical Detail.
> Does the building
> exist? What whim prompted 'Ennery the Eighth to
> abscond with its roof?

When Henry 8 "nationalised" the Church, the wealthy Abbeys were
stripped of everything of value.  Their roofs were covered in lead
sheets, which were removed and re-used on new buildings.  The timbers
themselves would have been of value, and probably went in short order. 
(Picture a state-sponsored looting frenzy.)  This is why abbeys in
England are, typically, "ruined".

> (Oh, and is there really a town called Ick Regis?)

I've not been able to find one.  There is a Bognor Regis.  This might
be a Melville reference, actually.... though I don't read latin, "Ick
Regis" looks like "King's Fish" to me... whales belonged to the King. 
Perhaps Ick Regis would be a place a sperm whale beached once?  or a
whaling village founded by the crown?

> 
> p. 73 "Bert"
> Why not Poseidon, say?

Why not Bert?  Bert is fine....


Mark
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