[lit-ideas] Re: Opening Sentences
- From: David Ritchie <ritchierd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:57:20 -0800
I've been reading reviews.
"[x] seems poised to take her place among the most incisive
and respected critics of Victorian literature and culture."
I'm trying to figure out why I find this opening sentence so annoying.
I think it's the rhetorical move which avoids responsibility for
judgment. Instead of saying, "I admire this person's work," the
writer's opening shot is of a vista, where giant pedestals are already
in place. We are at Dieppe's "Parc des heroes et heroines de la
culture Victorian" or some such council-inspired park, and, having paid
our euros, we walk towards the pantheon of statues, arrayed among the
snow-bedecked rhododendrons.
"Oh," you say, "there's Asa Briggs. I had no idea his glasses were so
thick."
"That's a very good Bram Djykstra," I reply. "Remarkable elbows."
"Look over here. It's whats-er-face, poised to take her place among
the most incisive and respected critics of Victorian literature and
culture."
"Why, so it is!"
Bleah.
I hope my roast is ready soon.
David Ritchie,
Portland, Oregon
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