Have just finished the memoir Stone Will Answer, by Beatrice Searle. Look forward to discovering the Story of the Stone next! I’m in the mood for an epic. Thanks for the recommendation.
How serendipitous (your time will not be wasted.. ). I’ve just looked up the Beatrice Searle, which looks fascinating - so I think we’ve just swapped recommendations!
It does whet your appetite to read the book, all five volumes.
Five volumes. With such a long/big book, one wonders what causes a writer to continue on such an epic journey. Ten years writing a book. So many characters. It can't be that they can see that we shall be reading and talking about it four centuries later... there must be tales that got lost in obscurity.
Do you ever wonder, WTRI, what motivates the author to keep going at it?
I think for most writers the primary concern is “What's the best way to tell this story?”; and that's what they're working towards/grappling with. If you're interested in the genesis of The Stone, David Hawkes is really helpful - highly recommended.
Oh, I read "The Dream of the Red Chamber" more than 30 years ago, in an Italian translation from a German translation – "Der Traum der Roten Krammer." I should fetch me the Hawkes-Minford English version. I don't remember all the details, but yes, the female characters weren't simply decorative, and the general impression was of a wondrously told tale.
I've never heard of "silver fork novels" before today, so I thank thee kindly, WTRI, for the multiple nuggets of wisdom and a most enjoyable read.
Have just finished the memoir Stone Will Answer, by Beatrice Searle. Look forward to discovering the Story of the Stone next! I’m in the mood for an epic. Thanks for the recommendation.
How serendipitous (your time will not be wasted.. ). I’ve just looked up the Beatrice Searle, which looks fascinating - so I think we’ve just swapped recommendations!
It does whet your appetite to read the book, all five volumes.
Five volumes. With such a long/big book, one wonders what causes a writer to continue on such an epic journey. Ten years writing a book. So many characters. It can't be that they can see that we shall be reading and talking about it four centuries later... there must be tales that got lost in obscurity.
Do you ever wonder, WTRI, what motivates the author to keep going at it?
I think for most writers the primary concern is “What's the best way to tell this story?”; and that's what they're working towards/grappling with. If you're interested in the genesis of The Stone, David Hawkes is really helpful - highly recommended.
Oh, I read "The Dream of the Red Chamber" more than 30 years ago, in an Italian translation from a German translation – "Der Traum der Roten Krammer." I should fetch me the Hawkes-Minford English version. I don't remember all the details, but yes, the female characters weren't simply decorative, and the general impression was of a wondrously told tale.
I've never heard of "silver fork novels" before today, so I thank thee kindly, WTRI, for the multiple nuggets of wisdom and a most enjoyable read.
Aha, a fellow aficionado! And thank-you for your kind words - much appreciated.