RIP A. S. Byatt

[Paul Cray]

I don't think the poems are supposed to be satire, but I suspect it helps
to have a profound knowledge of Victorian poetry, especially Browning, to
appreciate them to anything close to the degree they can be. I did read
them, but I believe a lot of people skip them, but I can't claim any
knowledge of Browning or Victorian poets generally. It's still a great
novel. (And features my hometown and county!).

Paul

On Fri, 17 Nov 2023 at 12:18, Charles Albert <cfalbert at gmail.com> wrote:

> I didn't get the idea that the purpose of the poetry was satire, but I'm
> insufficiently versed in both the genre ( which does little for me) and the
> underlying canon. From what I do know her efforts appeared a monumental
> achievement in both quality and volume.
>
> The reason to read it is that it will make you a far better
> manwormdickcriminal.
>
>
> love,
>
> cfa
>
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 17, 2023, 1:56 PM David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Period satire could veer towards insider playtime. But I do expect (hope)
> > Posession to have more depth than such style/culture formal play.
> >
> > On Fri, Nov 17, 2023 at 1:26 PM Paul Cray <pmcray at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> It's a very good book, although it probably helps to be Adam Roberts (
> >> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Roberts_(British_writer)) to get the
> >> most out of it. The Victorian poet whose life and work the novel turns
> >> around is a mashup of Browning and Tennyson. I suspect the faked up
> poems
> >> are hilarious(*) to a Victorianist!
> >>
> >> (*) In that they presumably raise many a wry eyebrow and chortle of
> >> recognition.
> >>
> >> Paul
> >>
> >> On Fri, 17 Nov 2023 at 09:32, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Thanks cfa,
> >>>
> >>> I’ve just ordered Posession from AbeBooks for the *free shipping* price
> >>> of
> >>> $4!  I’m always interested in a new author recommendation from a
> >>> respected
> >>> source, and who can resist SUCH A DEAL ($4!) !
> >>>
> >>> David Morris
> >>>
> >>> On Fri, Nov 17, 2023 at 10:37 AM Charles Albert <cfalbert at gmail.com>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> > A.S. Byatt, Scholar Who Found Literary Fame With Fiction, Dies at 87
> >>> >
> >>> > I am eternally indebted to the friend who insisted I must read
> >>> Possession.
> >>> >
> >>> > love,
> >>> >
> >>> > cfa
> >>> > --
> >>> > Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
> >>> >
> >>
> >>
> >>> --
> >>> Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
> >>>
> >>
> --
> Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
>