JFK in Lot 49

[DudiousMax at aol.com]

Yo Dudes;
                It is I, The Scarlet Lurker, coming out of the tall grass for 
a moment.  I usually don't enjoy being in the middle of such passionate 
intensity, but I realize it is the DNA imperative of males to vie for 
dominance in the hierarchical pecking order.  I'm just too old for that 
stuff.  And I'll remind you all what Katherine Hepburn once said to Humphrey 
Bogart in THE AFRICAN QUEEN.  "Human Nature is what we must strive to 
overcome," or words to that effect.  But as everyone is so close.  It is as 
though the truth were right there, the en soi, all Sartrean brown and 
squishy, and no one wants to get too close.
                It has recently reported that certain Pynchon letters from 
the 60s have made their way to the University of Texas archives, and that 
among them is one that demonstrates how upset TRP was at the Kennedy 
regicide.  Lots of us were upset, for various reasons.  Hell, Nixon commented 
at the time something to the effect, "That could have been me."  So, I 
interpret that as not so much an Old dynasty v. New dynasty opinion; but as 
the realization that there was a new Praetorian order in politics.
                Furthermore, it is generally said that TRP took time off from 
his larger project (Gravity's Rainbow) to begin his miniature masterpiece 
(Lot 49).  I know, I know: post hoc, propter hoc.  But TRP's history suggests 
a pretty disciplined work habit, and it's the only time we know of that he 
dropped one project to begin another.  And I'll enjoy lurking through your 
discussion of that one too.
                 Dugdale, in his book's chapter on Lot 49, mentions but 
doesn't go into (much) P's concern for the events in Dallas that November 
day.  Alas, he doesn't go far enough with that thread, for me.  But he did 
notice it.  So I am not alone.
                 So we have the Pynchon letter expressing consternation, we 
have Dugdale's discussion, and my essay all linking JFK to Lot 49.  I attempt 
to show how TRP made those links.  While I can say "how" I can't say "why" 
without being a mind reader.  Perhaps he knew of Mark Lane's book (then in 
the works?) RUSH TO JUDGMENT?  He's always seemed to have good connections to 
the publishing world.
                 But what do I know.  I'm only...
                        You know who
                  
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