[lit-ideas] Re: The Sect of the Phoenix
- From: Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:17:53 EDT
Thanks to S. Ward for his comments.
>Ashbee, wrote two >bibliographies of erotic literature.
Well, not to nit-pick (I hate that expression), but Kearney cites "Ashbee
I", "Ashbee II", and "Ashbee III", to wit (I hate that phrase):
"Index librorum prohibitorum, being notes bio-biblio-iconographical
and
critical on curious an duncommon books, by Pisanus Fraxi.
London: 1877, repr. New York: Jack Brussel, 1962).
"Centuria librorum absconditorum". London 1879, repr. idem JB 1962
"Catena librorum Tacendorum". London: 1885, repr. idem JB 1962.
Kearney says they are all in "The Private Case" at the BM -- which used to
be in London but I read they were thinking of moving it to YORKSHIRE? (The
British Library, rather --.
>Ashbee's work could never be publically lauded. He had his
>circle of appreciating friends, no doubt, but there were no prizes
I'm sure that the gentleman he was, he appreciated a thousand and one time
more the private _laudes_ (kudos) from his circle than a boring old public
recognition from V. R. -- who was very much more into that sort of thing than
the public needs to know, though.
>A huge beard.
Yes, Kearney reproduces one photograph of the man. Most say those beards
make these Victorian gentlemen ALL LOOK THE SAME.
I like your considerations for the Victorians. One of my friends, referring
to one of HIS favourite books, the memories of an actor -- "A Victorian in
Orbit" -- would call ME -- "An Edwardian in orbit". Yes, that's more like my
cuppa!
Thanks for the uncospiscuousness. It's the title of a short story by Borges,
whose meaning has been hotly debated. The way I take it is as referring to a
circle of people interested in very private acts of reproduction (and
copulation). All very _naughty_ -- especially when the phoenix is the only bird
(of
Brazil) who, almost like Pallas Athena, self-reproduces. But R. Paul knows
more about this kind of thing. (I don't mean anything personal about the sect,
though).
Thanks for the rich ref. to "Notes and Queries". "What a difference to the
times of the dear old queen", as someone said on viewing "Salome" (?). THE
GUARDIAN -- in a very horrible edition circulated with the Buenos Aires Herald
-- used to carry in the Sunday edition, a Notes and Queries section by P.
Harvey -- VERY VERY BORING.
On the other hand (my left), I recently bought (or rather 'found' in a
bookshop naughtily called "The Book Swap") the three volumes (must find the
four)
called "The Cuckoo" which has all the fascinating letters to THE TIMES. Not
quite, but funny, too.
What S. Ward says about Ashbee replying his own queries in N&Q reminded me
of John (Can't remember his middle name) Orton, a native of Saffron Estates,
in Leics, and known for "Loot". In his bio, Lahr, mentions that Orton wrote a
fascinating critical 'letter' to THE TIMES (or Daily Telegraph, can't
remember) under the name of Mary Whitehouse (or another ridiculous name like
that)
expressing how offended she felt about the whole thing.
While Orton never cared to reply to that! (and thus this being different
from our witty Ashbe), it makes a connection. The other day I was reading in
the
Letters to the Editor section in the NYT that the section should be divided
in two sub-sections:
One, for very real letters to the editor.
The other, for boring replies by boring authors who feel their work has been
misunderstood!
Cheers
J. L. Speranza
The Swimming Pool Library -- Bordighera & Buenos Aires.
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