Thank you for rambling! Having read thousands of books during my lifetime, I can say that Graves White Goddess is one of the few that has altered the way I view the world. I don't pretend to understand it all or even most of it in the thirty or so years since I first read it but there is something about the subject and the language that has opened doors for me.
Perspicacious as always, and the well chosen quotes make me wonder what the hell I was reading in school to have missed so much. I think you need to write down the top 50 books you think we, mere mortals who admire your rambles, need to make certain we have read. I would appreciate that gift, though your “rambles” are certainly gift enough. Thank you and looking forward to the next!
From you, intensely subjective is the whole point! I see plenty of lists. I would love to know what you might put on such a list. Not definitive, but very you. Food for thought. I hope this finds you well. Cheers from the East Coast of the deeply troubled United States.
Cheers Lincoln, much appreciated - I’ll give some thought to the books idea. I must admit it’s never crossed my mind but now you’ve planted the seed! It would be intensely subjective but i suppose so are many kinds of list. Anyway thanks for thinking of it 👍😀
that it acquires meaning, and becomes known to the common man.....that an outline takes shape for everyman. e.g., Unknowns/Gilgamesh; Homer/the Trojan War.
That an archetypal presence becomes known (e.g., Pan, the Piper at the Gates of Dawn, becomes apparent to Rat and Mole, as having rescued Young Otter) . ... The gods taking part in the Trojan War....or any war.
That historical figures become mystified (Chesterton/King Alfred),
That "Man and Woman created he them" is cadenced, sung, cursed, begun again.........
If you don't have time to read The White Goddess, Graves has given us: "To Juan at the Winter Solstice":
David, Have you read Graves’ book “Goodbye To All That”? Given that Graves was severely wounded in WW1, suffered acutely from “shell-shock” and still managed to live to 90; I wondered if his writing became cathartic for him?
Hi Gordon: many thanks for the comment, I appreciate it. I suppose writing would have been cathartic for him but I think his main driving force was that he understood himself to be a professional writer. It was his job. He was good at it. Another driver would have been that he was a bloke who had a “lavish lifestyle” and he simply needed the money to live in the manner to which he had grown accustomed. Cheers David M
Another of Robert Graves’ historical novels that I enjoyed reading and can recommend was Count Belisarius, set in the 6th Century; not a peaceful time for Rome.
The White Goddess has been on my (constantly growing) to-read pile for ten years now, but it's always somewhre in the middle. You just moved it a bit though; thanks for the ramble.
Thank you for rambling! Having read thousands of books during my lifetime, I can say that Graves White Goddess is one of the few that has altered the way I view the world. I don't pretend to understand it all or even most of it in the thirty or so years since I first read it but there is something about the subject and the language that has opened doors for me.
Thanks Vernon … I know what you mean about altering the way you view the world: I feel the same! Best regards David M
Perspicacious as always, and the well chosen quotes make me wonder what the hell I was reading in school to have missed so much. I think you need to write down the top 50 books you think we, mere mortals who admire your rambles, need to make certain we have read. I would appreciate that gift, though your “rambles” are certainly gift enough. Thank you and looking forward to the next!
From you, intensely subjective is the whole point! I see plenty of lists. I would love to know what you might put on such a list. Not definitive, but very you. Food for thought. I hope this finds you well. Cheers from the East Coast of the deeply troubled United States.
Thanks Lincoln 🫡👍
Cheers Lincoln, much appreciated - I’ll give some thought to the books idea. I must admit it’s never crossed my mind but now you’ve planted the seed! It would be intensely subjective but i suppose so are many kinds of list. Anyway thanks for thinking of it 👍😀
Ditto for the list of your top 50 books us ramblites would admire.
More rambles please!
It is when poets get ahold of history
that it acquires meaning, and becomes known to the common man.....that an outline takes shape for everyman. e.g., Unknowns/Gilgamesh; Homer/the Trojan War.
That an archetypal presence becomes known (e.g., Pan, the Piper at the Gates of Dawn, becomes apparent to Rat and Mole, as having rescued Young Otter) . ... The gods taking part in the Trojan War....or any war.
That historical figures become mystified (Chesterton/King Alfred),
That "Man and Woman created he them" is cadenced, sung, cursed, begun again.........
If you don't have time to read The White Goddess, Graves has given us: "To Juan at the Winter Solstice":
There is one story and one story only
That will prove worth your telling.
...................
Is it of trees you tell, ......
Or of the Zodiac and how slow it turns
Below the Boreal Crown,
Prison of all true kings that ever reigned ?
.............
Or is it of the Virgin's silver beauty
...............
Her brow was creamy as the crested wave,
Her sea-blue eyes were wild
But nothing promised that is not performed.
--------------------------------------------------
David Myton, you have set yourself a heavy lift if you do return to historiography. Thanks for
today's post.
Nice comment Janice, thanks. And thank-you for reminding me about Juan At The Winter Solstice - best regards David M
David, Have you read Graves’ book “Goodbye To All That”? Given that Graves was severely wounded in WW1, suffered acutely from “shell-shock” and still managed to live to 90; I wondered if his writing became cathartic for him?
Hi Gordon: many thanks for the comment, I appreciate it. I suppose writing would have been cathartic for him but I think his main driving force was that he understood himself to be a professional writer. It was his job. He was good at it. Another driver would have been that he was a bloke who had a “lavish lifestyle” and he simply needed the money to live in the manner to which he had grown accustomed. Cheers David M
Very interesting. I am fascinated by myths of dragons.
Thanks for sharing this.
Another of Robert Graves’ historical novels that I enjoyed reading and can recommend was Count Belisarius, set in the 6th Century; not a peaceful time for Rome.
The White Goddess has been on my (constantly growing) to-read pile for ten years now, but it's always somewhre in the middle. You just moved it a bit though; thanks for the ramble.