Pynchon and Gaddis

[jbor]

Otto wrote:

> I think both novels add to a greater picture of the early USA. One more
> concerned with the Revolution, one with the Civil War. And both are
> discussing questions of the legal system.

I agree with you Otto. I think _Frolic_ is perhaps an ideal counterpart to
read alongside _M&D_, in that it's in fact the Civil War which is the hidden
subtext of Pynchon's novel.

I agree with Paul too that in _M&D_ George is presented and viewed as a man
of his own era, rather than as a man of ours. And even though that does seem
like common sense, historiographically-speaking it isn't always the case.
It's the same type of thing that Pynchon does with his characters in _GR_ I
might add.

best