V.V. (11): non è vero

[jbor]

I found it in _Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable_, a very handy little
reference tome. Unfortunately the source isn't specified (an opera perhaps?)
except as an "Italian saying". I like the translation of trovato as
"invention" because it fits in with Benny thinking of himself as an
"inanimate schlemihl" and also with the latter part of the sacred/profane
dichotomy which he, by virtue of his name, embodies. I'm not sure if Mafia,
or Pynchon, are playing around with it, but it does seem resonant.

On the Fergus as actor thing, I think Mafia is pretty much spot on there as
well. I'm thinking of stand-ups like Jackie Gleason or Jerry Lewis or even
Lenny Bruce (out of whom DeLillo got so much mileage in _Underworld_) who,
like the Seinfelds of more recent times, made the crossover from performance
artist to actor with some ease. The earlier description of Fergus might
place him in the same league as some of those guys, if somewhat satirically
(as with Slab, Mafia &c); what do you think?

best


----------
>From: Dave Monroe <davidmmonroe at yahoo.com>
>

> but is this a
> quote of some sort or merely an idiom?