pynchon-l-digest V2 #13101

[Jamie Anderson]

I'm excited for you. M&D is my favorite book of all time. In addition to
the books recommended above about American history, I would recommend
familiarizing yourself with the history of natural philosophy and of the
Royal Society:
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/history/Societies/RShistory.html and
particularly in the 18th century. Also read about the Greenwich Observatory
(http://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory/history) and the Astronomer Royal: (
http://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/astronomer-royal).

If you want to get deeper into it, please let me know - I wrote my thesis
about the early Royal Society and its ties to the English/British East
India Company so I have read a LOT about it.

-bix

On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 1:00 AM, pynchon-l-digest <
owner-pynchon-l-digest at waste.org> wrote:

>
> pynchon-l-digest     Tuesday, November 22 2016     Volume 02 : Number 13101
>
>
>
> [none]
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> [none]
> [none]
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date:
> From:
> Subject: [none]
>
> - --001a113fb6d6be2dee0541d458ca
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> That any busy folk on the Pynchon list who
> have not yet learned that Michael Chabon, a
> terrific, personal, sometimes idiosyncratically profound
> appreciator of Thomas Pynchon know that his
> new book, MOONGLOW, contains some kind of
> pursuit of Werner Van Braun postwar by a character or other.
>
> That epigrammatic guy for GR, and the GR war; &
>
> that future that TRP riffed about near the end of GR.....
>
> --001a113fb6d6be2dee0541d458ca
> Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> <div dir=3D"ltr">That any busy folk on the Pynchon list who<div>have not
> ye=
> t learned that Michael Chabon, a=C2=A0</div><div>terrific, personal,
> someti=
> mes idiosyncratically profound=C2=A0</div><div>appreciator of Thomas
> Pyncho=
> n know that his=C2=A0</div><div>new book, MOONGLOW, contains some kind
> of</=
> div><div>pursuit of Werner Van Braun postwar by a character or
> other.=C2=A0=
> </div><div><br></div><div>That epigrammatic guy for GR, and the GR war;
> &am=
> p;=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>that future that TRP riffed about near
> th=
> e end of GR.....</div></div>
>
> --001a113fb6d6be2dee0541d458ca--
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date:
> From:
> Subject: [none]
>
> - --047d7b604e989d15510541d608d9
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Hello chaps,
>
> I am planning on reading *Mason & Dixon* soon and would like to know
> whether there are any books I ought to read before starting in order to be
> familiar with the historical context/figures discussed etc.
>
> I have never studied American history so don't know much about pre-1776
> stuff.
>
> Cheers.
>
> --047d7b604e989d15510541d608d9
> Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> <div dir=3D"ltr">Hello chaps,<div><br></div><div>I am planning on reading
> <=
> i>Mason & Dixon</i> soon and would like to know whether there are any
> b=
> ooks I ought to read before starting in order to be familiar with the
> histo=
> rical context/figures discussed etc.</div><div><br></div><div>I have
> never =
> studied American history so don't know much about pre-1776
> stuff.</div>=
> <div><br></div><div>Cheers.</div></div>
>
> --047d7b604e989d15510541d608d9--
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date:
> From:
> Subject: [none]
>
> - --001a114e67845b1c3f0541d78098
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> This is an interesting question.  I didn't read anything in particular
> before I read M&D, so I don't think there's any background reading
> required.  But there's no fun in that answer.
>
> Apropos of that period of American history, very few Americans get much
> history about the century and a half before the Revolution.  My son took
> American History in the eighth grade a few years ago, and his textbook
> skipped from the founding of the Jamestown (Virginia) and Plymouth
> (Massachusetts) colonies in 1607 and 1620 pretty much to the Revolution
> without only a short digression about the founding of Manhattan by the
> Dutch.  This approach is pretty typical.
>
> If you want to read a good history of that period, two I can recommend are
> Bernard Bailyn's The Barbarous Years, which covers 1600 to 1675, and Daniel
> Richter's Before The Revolution.  I particularly liked the latter, which
> (IIRC) emphasized the extent to which what happened in the American
> colonies was very much affected by transatlantic trade and political
> developments in Europe.
>
> The other obvious book to read as background is Benjamin Franklin's
> autobiography
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Autobiography_of_Benjamin_Franklin>.
> And if you're going to read that, or even if you aren't, you should read
> Jill Lepore's Book Of Ages, about Franklin's sister and the limits of
> history.
>
> On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 1:06 PM, Alexei du P=C3=A9rier <alexei.duperier at gma
> =
> il.com
> > wrote:
>
> > Hello chaps,
> >
> > I am planning on reading *Mason & Dixon* soon and would like to know
> > whether there are any books I ought to read before starting in order to
> b=
> e
> > familiar with the historical context/figures discussed etc.
> >
> > I have never studied American history so don't know much about pre-1776
> > stuff.
> >
> > Cheers.
> >
>
> --001a114e67845b1c3f0541d78098
> Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> <div dir=3D"ltr">This is an interesting question.=C2=A0 I didn't read
> a=
> nything in particular before I read M&D, so I don't think
> there&#39=
> ;s any background reading required.=C2=A0 But there's no fun in that
> an=
> swer.<div><br></div><div>Apropos of that period of American history, very
> f=
> ew Americans get much history about the century and a half before the
> Revol=
> ution.=C2=A0 My son took American History in the eighth grade a few years
> a=
> go, and his textbook skipped from the founding of the Jamestown (Virginia)
> =
> and Plymouth (Massachusetts) colonies in 1607 and 1620 pretty much to the
> R=
> evolution without only a short digression about the founding of Manhattan
> b=
> y the Dutch.=C2=A0 This approach is pretty typical.</div><div><br></div><
> di=
> v>If you want to read a good history of that period, two I can recommend
> ar=
> e Bernard Bailyn's The Barbarous Years, which covers 1600 to 1675, and
> =
> Daniel Richter's Before The Revolution.=C2=A0 I particularly liked the
> =
> latter, which (IIRC) emphasized the extent to which what happened in the
> Am=
> erican colonies was very much affected by transatlantic trade and
> political=
>  developments in Europe.</div><div><br></div><div>The other obvious book
> to=
>  read as background is <a href=3D"https://en.wikipedia.
> org/wiki/The_Autobio=
> graphy_of_Benjamin_Franklin">Benjamin Franklin's
> autobiography</a>.=C2=
> =A0 And if you're going to read that, or even if you aren't, you
> sh=
> ould read Jill Lepore's Book Of Ages, about Franklin's sister and
> t=
> he limits of history.</div></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=
> =3D"gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 1:06 PM, Alexei du P=C3=A9rier
> <sp=
> an dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:alexei.duperier at gmail.com"
> target=3D"_=
> blank">alexei.duperier at gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote
> class=
> =3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc
> solid;padd=
> ing-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Hello chaps,<div><br></div><div>I am
> plannin=
> g on reading <i>Mason & Dixon</i> soon and would like to know whether
> t=
> here are any books I ought to read before starting in order to be familiar
> =
> with the historical context/figures discussed
> etc.</div><div><br></div><div=
> >I have never studied American history so don't know much about
> pre-177=
> 6 stuff.</div><div><br></div><div>Cheers.</div></div>
> </blockquote></div><br></div>
>
> --001a114e67845b1c3f0541d78098--
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date:
> From:
> Subject: [none]
>
> - --94eb2c149b281fb2c30541d811e2
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> You might want to read about some of the personalities in M&D.  In addition
> to the main characters, prominent ones might be George Washington &
> Benjamin Franklin.  Both are humorously portrayed.
>
>  I don't think Thomas Jefferson got portrayed, but he was one of the lead
> architects of the Constitution, and a proponent of "Enlightenment"
> philosophy, largely imported from France.
>
> David Morris
>
> On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 4:51 PM, Robert Mahnke <rpmahnke at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > This is an interesting question.  I didn't read anything in particular
> > before I read M&D, so I don't think there's any background reading
> > required.  But there's no fun in that answer.
> >
> > Apropos of that period of American history, very few Americans get much
> > history about the century and a half before the Revolution.  My son took
> > American History in the eighth grade a few years ago, and his textbook
> > skipped from the founding of the Jamestown (Virginia) and Plymouth
> > (Massachusetts) colonies in 1607 and 1620 pretty much to the Revolution
> > without only a short digression about the founding of Manhattan by the
> > Dutch.  This approach is pretty typical.
> >
> > If you want to read a good history of that period, two I can recommend
> ar=
> e
> > Bernard Bailyn's The Barbarous Years, which covers 1600 to 1675, and
> Dani=
> el
> > Richter's Before The Revolution.  I particularly liked the latter, which
> > (IIRC) emphasized the extent to which what happened in the American
> > colonies was very much affected by transatlantic trade and political
> > developments in Europe.
> >
> > The other obvious book to read as background is Benjamin Franklin's
> > autobiography
> > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Autobiography_of_Benjamin_Franklin>.
> > And if you're going to read that, or even if you aren't, you should read
> > Jill Lepore's Book Of Ages, about Franklin's sister and the limits of
> > history.
> >
> > On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 1:06 PM, Alexei du P=C3=A9rier <
> > alexei.duperier at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Hello chaps,
> >>
> >> I am planning on reading *Mason & Dixon* soon and would like to know
> >> whether there are any books I ought to read before starting in order to
> =
> be
> >> familiar with the historical context/figures discussed etc.
> >>
> >> I have never studied American history so don't know much about pre-1776
> >> stuff.
> >>
> >> Cheers.
> >>
> >
> >
>
> --94eb2c149b281fb2c30541d811e2
> Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> <div dir=3D"ltr">You might want to read about some of the personalities in
> =
> M&D.=C2=A0 In addition to the main characters, prominent ones might be
> =
> George Washington & Benjamin Franklin.=C2=A0 Both are humorously
> portra=
> yed.<div><br></div><div>=C2=A0I don't think Thomas Jefferson got
> portra=
> yed, but he was one of the lead architects of the Constitution, and a
> propo=
> nent of "Enlightenment" philosophy, largely imported from
> France.=
> =C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>David Morris</div></div><div
> class=3D"gmail=
> _extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 4:51 PM,
> Rob=
> ert Mahnke <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:rpmahnke at gmail.com"
> targ=
> et=3D"_blank">rpmahnke at gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote
> class=
> =3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc
> solid;padd=
> ing-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">This is an interesting question.=C2=A0 I
> did=
> n't read anything in particular before I read M&D, so I don't
> t=
> hink there's any background reading required.=C2=A0 But there's no
> =
> fun in that answer.<div><br></div><div>Apropos of that period of American
> h=
> istory, very few Americans get much history about the century and a half
> be=
> fore the Revolution.=C2=A0 My son took American History in the eighth
> grade=
>  a few years ago, and his textbook skipped from the founding of the
> Jamesto=
> wn (Virginia) and Plymouth (Massachusetts) colonies in 1607 and 1620
> pretty=
>  much to the Revolution without only a short digression about the founding
> =
> of Manhattan by the Dutch.=C2=A0 This approach is pretty
> typical.</div><div=
> ><br></div><div>If you want to read a good history of that period, two I
> ca=
> n recommend are Bernard Bailyn's The Barbarous Years, which covers
> 1600=
>  to 1675, and Daniel Richter's Before The Revolution.=C2=A0 I
> particula=
> rly liked the latter, which (IIRC) emphasized the extent to which what
> happ=
> ened in the American colonies was very much affected by transatlantic
> trade=
>  and political developments in Europe.</div><div><br></div><div>The other
> o=
> bvious book to read as background is <a href=3D"https://en.wikipedia.
> org/wi=
> ki/The_Autobiography_of_Benjamin_Franklin" target=3D"_blank">Benjamin
> Frank=
> lin's autobiography</a>.=C2=A0 And if you're going to read that,
> or=
>  even if you aren't, you should read Jill Lepore's Book Of Ages,
> ab=
> out Franklin's sister and the limits of history.</div></div><div class=
> =3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at
> 1:0=
> 6 PM, Alexei du P=C3=A9rier <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:
> alexei.=
> duperier at gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">alexei.duperier at gmail.com</a>></
> sp=
> an> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0
> .8ex;=
> border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Hello
> chaps,<=
> div><br></div><div>I am planning on reading <i>Mason & Dixon</i> soon
> a=
> nd would like to know whether there are any books I ought to read before
> st=
> arting in order to be familiar with the historical context/figures
> discusse=
> d etc.</div><div><br></div><div>I have never studied American history so
> do=
> n't know much about pre-1776 stuff.</div><div><br></div><
> div>Cheers.</d=
> iv></div>
> </blockquote></div><br></div>
> </blockquote></div><br></div>
>
> --94eb2c149b281fb2c30541d811e2--
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date:
> From:
> Subject: [none]
>
> - --Apple-Mail-A2E85F2A-623B-41ED-81B2-EEBD9982F39A
> Content-Type: text/plain;
>         charset=utf-8
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> I'm deep into my third reading of M&D. What a great book. In my humble
> opini=
> on, just jump in and read without any preparation. If you get stuck, then
> ma=
> ybe go back and read some of the things recommended here.=20
> If you get through it once, you can always go back and prepare afterwards!
>
> Www.innergroovemusic.com
>
> > On Nov 21, 2016, at 6:32 PM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:
> >=20
> > You might want to read about some of the personalities in M&D.  In
> additio=
> n to the main characters, prominent ones might be George Washington &
> Benjam=
> in Franklin.  Both are humorously portrayed.
> >=20
> >  I don't think Thomas Jefferson got portrayed, but he was one of the
> lead a=
> rchitects of the Constitution, and a proponent of "Enlightenment"
> philosophy=
> , largely imported from France.=20
> >=20
> > David Morris
> >=20
> >> On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 4:51 PM, Robert Mahnke <rpmahnke at gmail.com>
> wrote=
> :
> >> This is an interesting question.  I didn't read anything in particular
> be=
> fore I read M&D, so I don't think there's any background reading
> required.  B=
> ut there's no fun in that answer.
> >>=20
> >> Apropos of that period of American history, very few Americans get much
> h=
> istory about the century and a half before the Revolution.  My son took
> Amer=
> ican History in the eighth grade a few years ago, and his textbook skipped
> f=
> rom the founding of the Jamestown (Virginia) and Plymouth (Massachusetts)
> co=
> lonies in 1607 and 1620 pretty much to the Revolution without only a short
> d=
> igression about the founding of Manhattan by the Dutch.  This approach is
> pr=
> etty typical.
> >>=20
> >> If you want to read a good history of that period, two I can recommend
> ar=
> e Bernard Bailyn's The Barbarous Years, which covers 1600 to 1675, and
> Danie=
> l Richter's Before The Revolution.  I particularly liked the latter, which
> (=
> IIRC) emphasized the extent to which what happened in the American
> colonies w=
> as very much affected by transatlantic trade and political developments in
> E=
> urope.
> >>=20
> >> The other obvious book to read as background is Benjamin Franklin's
> autob=
> iography.  And if you're going to read that, or even if you aren't, you
> shou=
> ld read Jill Lepore's Book Of Ages, about Franklin's sister and the limits
> o=
> f history.
> >>=20
> >>> On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 1:06 PM, Alexei du P=C3=A9rier
> <alexei.duperier@=
> gmail.com> wrote:
> >>> Hello chaps,
> >>>=20
> >>> I am planning on reading Mason & Dixon soon and would like to know
> wheth=
> er there are any books I ought to read before starting in order to be
> famili=
> ar with the historical context/figures discussed etc.
> >>>=20
> >>> I have never studied American history so don't know much about
> pre-1776 s=
> tuff.
> >>>=20
> >>> Cheers.
> >>=20
> >=20
>
> --Apple-Mail-A2E85F2A-623B-41ED-81B2-EEBD9982F39A
> Content-Type: text/html;
>         charset=utf-8
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> <html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html;
> charset=3D=
> utf-8"></head><body dir=3D"auto"><div>I'm deep into my third reading of
> M&am=
> p;D. What a great book. In my humble opinion, just jump in and read
> without a=
> ny preparation. If you get stuck, then maybe go back and read some of the
> th=
> ings recommended here. </div><div id=3D"AppleMailSignature">If you
> get t=
> hrough it once, you can always go back and prepare afterwards!<br><br><a
> hre=
> f=3D"http://Www.innergroovemusic.com">Www.innergroovemusic.com</a></div>
> <div=
> ><br>On Nov 21, 2016, at 6:32 PM, David Morris <<a href=3D"mailto:
> fqmorri=
> s at gmail.com">fqmorris at gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote
> type=
> =3D"cite"><div><div dir=3D"ltr">You might want to read about some of the
> per=
> sonalities in M&D.  In addition to the main characters, prominent
> o=
> nes might be George Washington & Benjamin Franklin.  Both are
> humor=
> ously portrayed.<div><br></div><div> I don't think Thomas Jefferson
> got=
>  portrayed, but he was one of the lead architects of the Constitution, and
> a=
>  proponent of "Enlightenment" philosophy, largely imported from
> France.&nbsp=
> ;</div><div><br></div><div>David Morris</div></div><div
> class=3D"gmail_extra=
> "><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 4:51 PM, Robert
> Mah=
> nke <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:rpmahnke at gmail.com"
> target=3D"_b=
> lank">rpmahnke at gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote
> class=3D"gmail=
> _quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc
> solid;padding-left:1=
> ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">This is an interesting question.  I didn't read
> an=
> ything in particular before I read M&D, so I don't think there's any
> bac=
> kground reading required.  But there's no fun in that
> answer.<div><br><=
> /div><div>Apropos of that period of American history, very few Americans
> get=
>  much history about the century and a half before the Revolution.  My
> s=
> on took American History in the eighth grade a few years ago, and his
> textbo=
> ok skipped from the founding of the Jamestown (Virginia) and Plymouth
> (Massa=
> chusetts) colonies in 1607 and 1620 pretty much to the Revolution without
> on=
> ly a short digression about the founding of Manhattan by the Dutch. 
> Th=
> is approach is pretty typical.</div><div><br></div><div>If you want to
> read a=
>  good history of that period, two I can recommend are Bernard Bailyn's The
> B=
> arbarous Years, which covers 1600 to 1675, and Daniel Richter's Before The
> R=
> evolution.  I particularly liked the latter, which (IIRC) emphasized
> th=
> e extent to which what happened in the American colonies was very much
> affec=
> ted by transatlantic trade and political developments in
> Europe.</div><div><=
> br></div><div>The other obvious book to read as background is <a
> href=3D"htt=
> ps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Autobiography_of_Benjamin_Franklin"
> target=3D=
> "_blank">Benjamin Franklin's autobiography</a>.  And if you're going
> to=
>  read that, or even if you aren't, you should read Jill Lepore's Book Of
> Age=
> s, about Franklin's sister and the limits of history.</div></div><div
> class=3D=
> "gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 1:06
> PM=
> , Alexei du P=C3=A9rier <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:
> alexei.duper=
> ier at gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">alexei.duperier at gmail.com</a>></span>
> wr=
> ote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0
> .8ex;border-=
> left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Hello
> chaps,<div><br>=
> </div><div>I am planning on reading <i>Mason & Dixon</i> soon and
> would l=
> ike to know whether there are any books I ought to read before starting in
> o=
> rder to be familiar with the historical context/figures discussed
> etc.</div>=
> <div><br></div><div>I have never studied American history so don't know
> much=
>  about pre-1776 stuff.</div><div><br></div><div>Cheers.</div></div>
> </blockquote></div><br></div>
> </blockquote></div><br></div>
> </div></blockquote></body></html>=
>
> --Apple-Mail-A2E85F2A-623B-41ED-81B2-EEBD9982F39A--
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date:
> From:
> Subject: [none]
>
> - --94eb2c18ee5488c99f0541d9eaf2
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> M&D is my favorite after GR.  It is never "difficult," so you shouldn't get
> stuck.  Like Keith, I never prepare to read Pynchon.  Just jump in, and
> keep going, even if you feel a bit lost at times.  Just experience it raw
> the first time so as to not be bogged down by too many preconceptions.
>
> But a general understanding of aspects of the advent of Enlightenment will
> help you a lot.  You probably already know enough of that to suffice.  Like
> all things Pynchon, Reason, and all its units of measure, are big targets.
> Knowing the orthodoxy will help with the humor.
>
> David Morris
>
> On Monday, November 21, 2016, Keith Davis <kbob42 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I'm deep into my third reading of M&D. What a great book. In my humble
> > opinion, just jump in and read without any preparation. If you get stuck,
> > then maybe go back and read some of the things recommended here.
> > If you get through it once, you can always go back and prepare
> afterwards=
> !
> >
> > Www.innergroovemusic.com
> >
> > On Nov 21, 2016, at 6:32 PM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com
> > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','fqmorris at gmail.com');>> wrote:
> >
> > You might want to read about some of the personalities in M&D.  In
> > addition to the main characters, prominent ones might be George
> Washingto=
> n
> > & Benjamin Franklin.  Both are humorously portrayed.
> >
> >  I don't think Thomas Jefferson got portrayed, but he was one of the lead
> > architects of the Constitution, and a proponent of "Enlightenment"
> > philosophy, largely imported from France.
> >
> > David Morris
> >
> > On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 4:51 PM, Robert Mahnke <rpmahnke at gmail.com
> > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','rpmahnke at gmail.com');>> wrote:
> >
> >> This is an interesting question.  I didn't read anything in particular
> >> before I read M&D, so I don't think there's any background reading
> >> required.  But there's no fun in that answer.
> >>
> >> Apropos of that period of American history, very few Americans get much
> >> history about the century and a half before the Revolution.  My son took
> >> American History in the eighth grade a few years ago, and his textbook
> >> skipped from the founding of the Jamestown (Virginia) and Plymouth
> >> (Massachusetts) colonies in 1607 and 1620 pretty much to the Revolution
> >> without only a short digression about the founding of Manhattan by the
> >> Dutch.  This approach is pretty typical.
> >>
> >> If you want to read a good history of that period, two I can recommend
> >> are Bernard Bailyn's The Barbarous Years, which covers 1600 to 1675, and
> >> Daniel Richter's Before The Revolution.  I particularly liked the
> latter=
> ,
> >> which (IIRC) emphasized the extent to which what happened in the
> America=
> n
> >> colonies was very much affected by transatlantic trade and political
> >> developments in Europe.
> >>
> >> The other obvious book to read as background is Benjamin Franklin's
> >> autobiography
> >> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Autobiography_of_Benjamin_Franklin>.
> >> And if you're going to read that, or even if you aren't, you should read
> >> Jill Lepore's Book Of Ages, about Franklin's sister and the limits of
> >> history.
> >>
> >> On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 1:06 PM, Alexei du P=C3=A9rier <
> >> alexei.duperier at gmail.com
> >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','alexei.duperier at gmail.com');>> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Hello chaps,
> >>>
> >>> I am planning on reading *Mason & Dixon* soon and would like to know
> >>> whether there are any books I ought to read before starting in order
> to=
>  be
> >>> familiar with the historical context/figures discussed etc.
> >>>
> >>> I have never studied American history so don't know much about pre-1776
> >>> stuff.
> >>>
> >>> Cheers.
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >
>
> --94eb2c18ee5488c99f0541d9eaf2
> Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> M&D is my favorite after GR.=C2=A0 It is never "difficult,"
> s=
> o you shouldn't get stuck.=C2=A0 Like Keith, I never prepare to read
> Py=
> nchon.=C2=A0 Just jump in, and keep going, even if you feel a bit lost at
> t=
> imes.=C2=A0 Just experience it raw the first time so as to not be bogged
> do=
> wn by too many=C2=A0preconceptions.<div><br></div><div>But a general
> unders=
> tanding of aspects of the advent of=C2=A0Enlightenment will help you a
> lot.=
> =C2=A0 You probably already know enough of that to suffice.=C2=A0 Like all
> =
> things Pynchon, Reason, and all its units of measure, are big targets.=C2=
> =A0 Knowing the orthodoxy will help with the humor.</div><div><br></div><
> di=
> v>David Morris<br><div><br>On Monday, November 21, 2016, Keith Davis
> <<a=
>  href=3D"mailto:kbob42 at gmail.com">kbob42 at gmail.com</a>>
> wrote:<br><block=
> quote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px
> #ccc=
>  solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"auto"><div>I'm deep into my third
> =
> reading of M&D. What a great book. In my humble opinion, just jump in
> a=
> nd read without any preparation. If you get stuck, then maybe go back and
> r=
> ead some of the things recommended here.=C2=A0</div><div>If you get
> through=
>  it once, you can always go back and prepare afterwards!<br><br><a
> href=3D"=
> http://Www.innergroovemusic.com" target=3D"_blank">Www.
> innergroovemusic.com=
> </a></div><div><br>On Nov 21, 2016, at 6:32 PM, David Morris <<a
> href=3D=
> "javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','fqmorris at gmail.com');"
> target=
> =3D"_blank">fqmorris at gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote
> type=
> =3D"cite"><div><div dir=3D"ltr">You might want to read about some of the
> pe=
> rsonalities in M&D.=C2=A0 In addition to the main characters,
> prominent=
>  ones might be George Washington & Benjamin Franklin.=C2=A0 Both are
> hu=
> morously portrayed.<div><br></div><div>=C2=A0I don't think Thomas
> Jeffe=
> rson got portrayed, but he was one of the lead architects of the
> Constituti=
> on, and a proponent of "Enlightenment" philosophy, largely
> import=
> ed from France.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>David
> Morris</div></div><div=
>  class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 21, 2016
> =
> at 4:51 PM, Robert Mahnke <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a
> href=3D"javascript:_e(%7=
> B%7D,'cvml','rpmahnke at gmail.com');"
> target=3D"_blank">rpmah=
> nke at gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote"
> st=
> yle=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div
> =
> dir=3D"ltr">This is an interesting question.=C2=A0 I didn't read
> anythi=
> ng in particular before I read M&D, so I don't think there's
> an=
> y background reading required.=C2=A0 But there's no fun in that
> answer.=
> <div><br></div><div>Apropos of that period of American history, very few
> Am=
> ericans get much history about the century and a half before the
> Revolution=
> .=C2=A0 My son took American History in the eighth grade a few years ago,
> a=
> nd his textbook skipped from the founding of the Jamestown (Virginia) and
> P=
> lymouth (Massachusetts) colonies in 1607 and 1620 pretty much to the
> Revolu=
> tion without only a short digression about the founding of Manhattan by
> the=
>  Dutch.=C2=A0 This approach is pretty typical.</div><div><br></div><div>If
> =
> you want to read a good history of that period, two I can recommend are
> Ber=
> nard Bailyn's The Barbarous Years, which covers 1600 to 1675, and
> Danie=
> l Richter's Before The Revolution.=C2=A0 I particularly liked the
> latte=
> r, which (IIRC) emphasized the extent to which what happened in the
> America=
> n colonies was very much affected by transatlantic trade and political
> deve=
> lopments in Europe.</div><div><br></div><div>The other obvious book to
> read=
>  as background is <a href=3D"https://en.wikipedia.
> org/wiki/The_Autobiograph=
> y_of_Benjamin_Franklin" target=3D"_blank">Benjamin Franklin's
> autobiogr=
> aphy</a>.=C2=A0 And if you're going to read that, or even if you
> aren&#=
> 39;t, you should read Jill Lepore's Book Of Ages, about Franklin's
> =
> sister and the limits of history.</div></div><div
> class=3D"gmail_extra"><br=
> ><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 1:06 PM, Alexei du
> P=C3=
> =A9rier <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"javascript:_e(%7B%7D,&
> #39;cvml&#39=
> ;,'alexei.duperier at gmail.com');" target=3D"_blank">alexei.
> duperier@=
> gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote"
> style=
> =3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div
> dir=
> =3D"ltr">Hello chaps,<div><br></div><div>I am planning on reading <i>Mason
> =
> & Dixon</i> soon and would like to know whether there are any books I
> o=
> ught to read before starting in order to be familiar with the historical
> co=
> ntext/figures discussed etc.</div><div><br></div><div>I have never
> studied =
> American history so don't know much about pre-1776
> stuff.</div><div><br=
> ></div><div>Cheers.</div></div>
> </blockquote></div><br></div>
> </blockquote></div><br></div>
> </div></blockquote></div></blockquote></div></div>
>
> --94eb2c18ee5488c99f0541d9eaf2--
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date:
> From:
> Subject: [none]
>
> - --001a1142894af712f60541db598f
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> How do P-list Europeans feel/think about the fact that the US
> President-elect has made an "alt-right" Nazi his top advisor?  It makes me
> sick.  How does it make you feel?
>
> The rise of Nazis in the US is different than the nationalist right in
> Europe, but they  both are rooted in fear.  In the US that fear is against
> all our resident Others, and less so insurgent ISSIS groups, despite GOP
> propaganda.  Like WW2, we have an ocean and colonial/imperial distance to
> protect us.  So we can be more smug.  But we seem more paranoid than
> warranted.  Guilty conscience, maybe?
>
> David Morris
>
> --001a1142894af712f60541db598f
> Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> How do P-list Europeans feel/think about the fact that the US
> President-ele=
> ct has made an "alt-right" Nazi his top advisor?=C2=A0 It makes
> m=
> e sick.=C2=A0 How does it make you feel?<div><br></div>The rise of Nazis
> in=
>  the US is different than the nationalist right in Europe, but they
> =C2=A0b=
> oth are=C2=A0rooted in fear.=C2=A0 In the US that fear is against all our
> r=
> esident Others, and less so insurgent ISSIS groups,=C2=A0despite=C2=A0GOP
> p=
> ropaganda.=C2=A0 Like WW2, we have an ocean and
> colonial/imperial=C2=A0dist=
> ance to protect us.=C2=A0 So we can be more smug.=C2=A0 But we seem more
> pa=
> ranoid than warranted.=C2=A0 Guilty conscience,
> maybe?<div><br></div><div>D=
> avid Morris<br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>
>
> --001a1142894af712f60541db598f--
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date:
> From:
> Subject: [none]
>
> - --Apple-Mail-D8FC0474-7714-4B07-B396-497500B7F29D
> Content-Type: text/plain;
>         charset=us-ascii
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>
>
> Michael Chabon on His New Book and Donald Trump -- Vulture
>
> Download the Twitter app
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
> --Apple-Mail-D8FC0474-7714-4B07-B396-497500B7F29D
> Content-Type: text/html;
>         charset=utf-8
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
> <html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;
> charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><a
> href="http://www.vulture.com/2016/11/michael-chabon-moonglow-c-v-r.html">Michael
> Chabon on His New Book and Donald Trump -- Vulture</a> <br><br>
>  <a href="https://twitter.com/download?ref_src=MailTweet-iOS">Download</a>
> the Twitter app</div><div><br><br>Sent from my iPad</div></body></html>
> --Apple-Mail-D8FC0474-7714-4B07-B396-497500B7F29D--
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of pynchon-l-digest V2 #13101
> *********************************
>
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