The MSW Book Recommendation 44 ; 'Between the Struggle and Respite'

Jean Rhys. Life and Work.

by Caroline Angier

; p. 1990 (Andre Deutsch) ; 762 p. (658 text, addit. notes, bibl.)

; Accomp./ Addit. read:

Smile Please. An unfinished Autobiography.

(Jean Rhys)
; p. 1979 (Andre Deutsch) ; 179 p.

[ ; ...+ (Addit):
Jean Rhys, Letters 1931-1966 ; 313 p., fp. 1984 (Also by Andre Deutsch).] 

 

” The truth is that for most men about this time Imperialism, or at least patriotism, was a substitute for religion. Men believed in the British Empire precisely because they had nothing else to believe in. ...And what I wish to attest, merely as witness to the fact, is that background of all the world was not merely atheism, but atheist orthodoxy, and even atheist respectability.” 

 ; Chesterton (G.K., 1874-1937.) , on his Autobiography ( p. 1937 ; of p. 145-6)

” 'Sacré Florainé', muttered the Chevalier. He looked at a swedish couple at the next table, at the bald american by the door, and at the hairy Anglo-Saxon novelist in the corner, and thought that they were a strange looking lot, and exceedingly depressing. (Quelles guegles qu'ils ont, was how he put it.) The place was full, but he was certainly the only French client. Then he felt a draught: someone had come in and left the door open. He turned to scowl, and, as he did so, the girl who had entered walked past him and sat down in the chair opposite. She took possession of his table, as it were, without looking at him and with only a slight gesture of apology. Evidently another foreigner. But the presence of a youthful female was soothing, and his ill humour vanished. She was a tall, blonde girl, not beautiful, not pretty, not chic; nevertheless, there was something. The Chevalier, who was used to labelling women accurately, decided that she was of the species femme du monde. Then he began to feel sure that she was an artist, a painter, one of those young people who come to Paris with the express purpose of making the fortunes of all the hotel and restaurant proprietors of the quartier Montparnasse.

[…] That lady observed him carefully with the eyes of an intelligent monkey; she was thin, elegant and wore pearls, which, if real, were certainly worth having, He spoke lengthly and fluently.

'Sorry mon vieux,' she said when he had finished. 'Business is bad just now. Besides one never sees you except you want money.'

'Then it's no ?' he demanded.

'For the moment, impossible.'

'Very well, we won't speak of it.' ” 
  ; ...from 'The Chevalier of the Place Blanche', a story 
(...'much-adapted translation of one written by Edouard de Néve', ...acc. Jean Rhys.)

                                         
   ”Her novels work like poems,

evoking enormously more than they actually say.” 
 (; Angier, of p. 198.)

[Recommendation(s) II / 2015]

Biography, book cover.

; As I sometime earlier did mention, often been my intention from provide here some additional life-stories/biographies. Seems now, only accidentally I suppose, us having (yet) selected a few biographies of British author. Even that I recall, sometime earlier to had promised not provide any more recoms on those. ...Guess'll that this can go for some unavoidable exception. 'Briton fiction' most easily approachable (For someone w. limited language skills, such as mine.) And (these) were selected as biographical writing, principally.

; Besides, seems that Jean Rhys (1890-1979) born at the Dominican Republic (If the place still has that name, formerly Santo Domingo) appears usually seen or represented as a main example of an author to colonial fiction. (Even that she lived most her days at British isles.) Well, on one from the Rhys's short-story compilations I then discovered listing about bunch of the other writers from Caribbean region, almost each and everyone some that I've not any prior reading experiences, or even hadn't ever heard from. Contained a few familiar sounding names, perhaps some like Reid, Naipaul...and poss. few others. Wordly fiction, even of some past decades, seems indeed appear a wider sea to sail. But I guess that also must've been, at the time on 1970s, of some part due the araised interest to Jean Rhys' writing.

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; 'Lives that look like movies and books...' ; Explanatique – Biographies appear behold various problems to their writers, as well as for the reader, I think. It's always a bit imaginary or questionable whether a book, from any lenght, could be assumed to comprise (even summarily) all the essentials from any persons life. Even on such massive volume than are the 762 pages of Angiers biography. (Of course, it's not even considered possible or intended purpose on the limits of any biography.) ; And, it's then always quite doubful whether selected parts – as any biography always comprises of the selections - might represent the most important, the most truthful and the most essential aspects, about any life. (But to put that briefly: I noticed Augier's book well interesting an effort, w. even all these slight 'reservations' I nowadays tend to put on any popular fictionist/cultural writings. And I don't mean it an understatement that her 'portrayal' from Jean Rhys's life makes also very entertative reading. Probably better than most)

; I guess I must also remark, of not had any prior familiarity of/from Jean Rhys or even about her fiction. Actually, I've not even read any of her novels, yet. (Really, not even that world-renown and praised Wide Sargasso Sea, p. 1966, which seems launched her 'rediscovery' at that time. But I read a larger number of those, I suppose, equally good or even better short-stories by her writing.) Wouldn't of course surprise much, if there since that having appeared amount from newer research Jean Rhys fiction (Angier's book was published already at the early 1990s.). But I've not any better knowledge or familiarity about that either. And guess I'm not even that interested.

Anyway, I actually read quite various bios before settling to the(se) of Jean Rhys. For example, I – superficially, but casually – read a few actress-biographies (of Louise Brooks', and from Bette Davis). Then I even also considered a biography of Edith Piaf for to read. Noticed then the book I had picked rather more sort of compilation on her recordings of the latter years, and left it unread. Finally, perhaps after glancing from still few other life-stories, I decided our major interest here on fiction/literature, so selecting on these was in the last instance quite easy a choice.

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; 'The corrupted concrete heart of the British Empire' (ca 1900 A.D.) ...But I'm also to mention, that reading (about Jean's life) then actually awoked on me an interest of to view slight more from some topics/personnel of that time (The restless early decades from 1900s, etc...) I then fx (but shortly) viewed also biographies from a couple late Victorian/'early modern'-authors, ie of the Ford Madox Ford (1873-1939), and, G.K.Chesterton (Autobiography).

; Feels that both from them, writing ca the 1920/30s, had some longing for that gone past century and that – nowadays so fictional - Victorian era. Yet these authors, (possibly) couldn't also had been for more different personnels in comparison. Much of an opposites by 'strategies' at their writing or from attitudes towards their own times: Ford Madox, sort of, looking forward, and, Chesterton looking backwards. (...now making this distinction, then - Wells? ...guess we can say he was then looking to the future - not for the oncoming times, but towards some utopic modernity. And Conrad? Guess, he was looking at the present. ...On a manner popular on the preceded years/century – observing his contemporaries. Like the authors always do, of course, but in fact seems he's usually classed to an older generation of writers, also may have died prior WW I-years. ...Actually having lived btw 1857-1924.) And the others, who knows, these just some...characterizations of mine.

; ...On Chesterton I devote some words here, even though him, or his writings, don't anyhow (directly) relate on our main recoms at this. But Chesterton's bio as well makes a good readable 'introduction' from that era of transition. Fx, seems he appear valuing just occasionally (I-o-w, there's fx that very aged, 'Victorian-manner' of using respective terminology on peoples by some 'merit', typically used when he refers to some his 'literary peers'. But generally, supposing, that often used about any older personnels – fx Mr. Wells and Mr. Belloc ; Mrs. Besant, etc...) Actually it now leaves quite quite funny impression. And the autobiography sometimes even more so, via that he's boring only when he's being the least serious. I mean not when he's being humoristic, telling jokes or stories, but occasionally when trying to 'lighten it a bit'. - What a man of paradoxes, indeed!! ...Actually, Chesterton says it best himself, via his example about the hearing public: ”...And though they would actually know that what you say is sense, if they thought about it sensibly, they cannot believe that anything decorated by an incidental joke can be sensible. Perhaps it explains why so many successful men are so dull – or why so many dull men are successful.” (p. 169).

However, I don't mean I'd found him boring, of course. Most cheerful man compared for many of the less talented but equally 'dead-serious' contemporaries. But I mean there's also always some strange kind feeling of to easily falling captive for his 'enchanting flow of words' when reading Chesterton. Even that he gives rather very honest impression, not any manner pleasing or trying to 'flatter' the reader. He's actually never sarcastic, and rarely ironic. If so, the explanation to that usually follows. Almost like a good churchman you feel you can trust, but still has a slight suspectfulness w. all your own suspicion concerning such uncontroversial morality.

; Seems to me also that Chesterton's many asserts against modern atheism and 'anti-morality' provides a lot interesting knowledge or views to his times. Many a references he makes about the typical cynicism and 'moral escapism', also describes his judgementary opinion of then fashionable and popular Fabianism (...fabianists lead by Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, foremost apparently). Acc. the memoir of Chestertons: ”...I began arguing with Mr. Bernard Shaw in print almost as early as I began doing anything. It was about my Pro-Boer sympathies in the South African War. Those who do not understand what the Fabian political philosophy was may not realise that the leading Fabians were nearly all Imperialists.”
 
Yet, perhaps is worth mention that, likewise, 'unca Chesterton' – also sometimes seem held (of relative) conservative opinioning. Fx he's noted disfavored the female suffrage, also of been rather old-fashioned from attitudes on some other 'modern liberal' ideas. (And on fx such 'novelties' as was the jazz. At some occasion of his writings, judges the new background music at cafeteries to a noisy, disturbing kind, etc...but that's naturally quite some matter of taste.) ; Also, seems him been claimed from anti-semitic attitudes, sometimes. At the Autobiography Chesterton naturally denies any of that for false accusation. ...Would of course appear quite paradoxical if we'd say Chesterton, the lax lay theologian, to have favored some atheistic totalitarianism(s). So I just notice him said from actually having comdemned Hitler's rise. (But acc. some, and like many cultural personnel of the time, also is said at first admired Mussolini.) ; Of more precisely, I just guess, that we can trace some origin for his discriminative attitudes also of that intellectual background on western literary tradition(s). ...Fx, Defoe and Dickens seem cultivated of resembling stereotypic characteristics at some from their novels and writing. Or, likewise one can find similarities to that on some French 1700s thinkers texts (Such as Voltaire and Rousseau, fx. Of Voltaire's part, fx, his fierce efforts against his own ages religious intolerance doesn't prevent him from using some stereotypical characterisations. No doubt w. ironic and exaggerating manner, but yet some part discriminatively. ...Even alongside on his commentaries directed against any religious discrimination and when suggesting to comtemporaries the broadminded attitude on any religious custom/beliefs, incl. also the various many non-christian religions. At the Rousseau it's more on the level of phrases, or idioms...I suppose.) In short, all of that not so apparent on Chesterton, but maybe also was by some part traceable for the past literary traditions he'd inherited.

; ...Series of view-points on Commonwealth ; pt VI.

; ...However, concerning his times politics and the political hypocrisies Chesterton also makes rather more interesting read. Fx, on Autobiography (p. 118-, until about p. 133) he writes about his youthful 'closeby' observations as the political journalist, during early century. Sometimes often provides also direct critique and on some place – I don't recall the exact pages for the moment – makes a short notice that actually a two-party system is generally not less bad and less undemocratic a system than would be one-party system. Indeed, quite much so, and one can learn lot about that early century of Chesterton's memoirs. Even while he sometimes might, at least occasionally, feel like some 'old Hippopotamus' to an author of 2oth century. ; ...And I guess it was also those times - Respectively, we easily find there was not so much to cheer and admire about at that 1930s. The Great Depression, the soon expected – and bit later realized – collapse in the course of civilizations. And the other aspects...

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; Alongside, this then 'awoked' some interest of mine for Ford Madox Ford, a short-time lover (also editor, publisher) for Jean Rhys around late 1920s, or early 1930s. ; However, that was, by some part, actually of Angier's commenting (on some page) them (Madox, Rhys) appearing the two 'greatest artist of selfpity in the British fiction'. In a way, albeit not very directly, perhaps it as well also descriptive for an era discussed. (The late imperialistic age, early 1900s.). However, I didn't read very extensively that biography of Ford Madox's. ; ...Guess it would've also been further enlightening on these aspect...but you know how it goes: ...I'm not really that exhausted as my years sometimes would seem to add up, but sometimes I feel not half the patriot I used to be, and besides, there's also flown lot of the water throughpast Thames-river ever since those days, and... (...Well, to be honest: Not a patriot at all, guess'll you can call me a compatriot if wish - It's a modern international era we'll living, w. all these global connections and everything else. Global citizenship nowadays popular, all kinds global knowledge the issue. ...So you can have all my sympathy for the selfpity, but not the slightest bit for any patriotic boasting.) ; And then all the side-consequences brought by our very modernity: the Mcdonaldsation. The noises and pollution. ….the rainy days and even worse weathers, hypocondria and rheumatism. ...And then there even was a leak in the bathroom, and only by accidentally I even happened befall to a few snacks and appetizers on my way home from Wolvampshire. And oh, how we ever came to cause so much harm for this world, I'm all so possessed by these unfortunate incidents. All the intrigue and ill-will. Luckily, I'm all in so bad conditions financially that I just don't even have any spare money for any of my well-intentions. (But, seriously, of course I've not much of any artistic skills, just a poor hack from the suburbs of this vast continental drift called modernity...)

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; 'The Whole Bag of Tricks' ...But, what shall I say of Jean Rhys (or her fiction) then? Typically, from having put quite lot words on Chesterton, seems now leave me w. slight lesser space to devote on her. ; Like noted priorly, I didn't actually read the novels, and Angier's bio comprises, of large parts, about chapters that focuse on relating them related for Jean's life-story/-incidents (So, I can't say much anything on that at this.) Anyhow, those short-fiction stories appear very recommendable as well. And also the autobiography. That early childhood memoir from the Dominican natures leaves one w. very heartfelling impression indeed. And the other chapters. Also, guess' we don't on these times of the tv's and networks so much recall that vast continuum from cultural inheritance, which occasionally – in the pasts – was probably felt from to lingering around. (...In the shadowy corners and via the old house-objects, I mean.)

; It's also probably correct say that anyone, possibly, who authors an autoportraiture has the latest, final word on his/her own life, after all. So, I selected also Jean's self-biography for the recoms on this as well. Fragmentary and perhaps incomplete that it is, makes an informative read if wish have a bit more comprehensive glance concerning her fiction too.

; ...Of course, and again by no coincidence, reading the bio (Angier) and Jean Rhys's short-stories I noticed there certain major similarity on Rhys for that author-persona from that imperialist era, Stevenson, R.L. (Whose fiction and biography on our recoms 32, ...plus 'the half', at earlier chapters). It's possibly/likely, due because of that colonial view-point both authors are read by. But probably as well of some other reasons. ; ...What first comes for mind, are at least the similariness on the early childhood experiences (also incl. denial/neglect), and then that 'Victorianic dark sphere' (...or smtgh.) Then there's of course the bad moods/illnesses. And at their writing a certain common straightforwardness. 'Rebellionism'. Not the least, also the adventures... And smtgh else of similar kind also. However, fx there's bunch of the major differences as well. Jean Rhys fx lived on the modern age, at preceded century mostly, while Stevenson remains amongst those iconic authors of the (romanticed) past era (That same, whose values or virtues Chesterton seemed so much 'yearned' at the memoir of his. Well not one-sidedly, though.) ; ...Maybe it's then also some part that romanticism and sentimentalism, the distant tropical islands and seas. But it's also that commoness at that imagination part, which I can't seem to better catch by any words on this. (Their) common ambivalence on experiences at life under some double-standards and -morals...or smtgh like that. Some contradictions about the inherited emotional idealism and the 'bad tempests' against the normative social 'mode'. ; Guess I'll leave my guessings on that...and now turn my reading eye for her novels. (W-G.)

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[; PS.(later added.), ...But I actually read that collection of her letters, listed on above. For an interested it's a quite enchanting, all in all. Of course, generally most of it is available/mentioned on Augier's bio too. (Collection seems appeared soon after Rhys's death.) So it doesn't provide much an additional information. But for an interested, not less a good read. (I've also considered, for a change, some resembling correspondences books - perhaps of some historical importance - to some main recom here, I mean. But the problem is that I've not read too extensively of those. Of course there's various many alternatives...Jean Rhys-letters are at least very enjoyable to read because she wasn't too productive a 'lettrist'. One gets the scope of incidents from her life, not is flooded by most irrational details and contemplations. And also - lot of nice expressions, terms and sayings. I mean...the letters seem contains the same compact use of the words, much similar to her 'style' on fiction.) ; However, overally, I also think that most biographers (and, esp. the researchers and historians...) tend put too much weight on peoples words or opinions expressed on correspondence and other similar material. Often that's quite understandable, on many cases that's only what available from certain past period/otherways obscure times, etc. But that just for some mention...read it too for some fun and also provided me some funny moments - Reason to this lenghty addit. ]

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"You Pollute..."

[ Pic of a classic Hitchcock  

       ...1936-filmed, The Man Who Knew Too Much.]

" It seemed llke the final form of matter,  the most shapeless and the most shameful. I could only tell myself, from its shudderings, that it was something at least that such a monster could be miserable. And then it broke upon me that the bestial mountain  was shaking with a lonely laughter, and the laughter was at me. Do you ask me to forgive that? It is no small thing to be laughed at by something  at once lower and stringer than oneself."

; ...from 'The Man Who was Thursday: A Nightmare' (by G.K.Chesterton, 1874-1936)

” Pleased to meet you, 
hope you guess my name,
But what's puzzling you, 
is the nature of my game.”
; ...from 'Sympathy for the Devil' (song by the Rolling Stone)  

...Series of view-points on Commonwealth ; pt V.

; ...Of recently I happened read, ao, quite some pages on 1970s and the problems then popularly discussed, namely the lack from any (meaningful) environmental policy and the problem from human population growth. Latter (then said) from soon exceeding it's safe supportable limits. Noticed then on those pages, ao, the following statement - by the time already important noted problem...Even if the book maybe is by now (of slight) dated:

; ”Under the First Amendment of our Constitution, every man not only has the right to say what he believes but also to believe what he says. ... The right to be ignorant is as sacred as the right to be informed.”

; ”As we have seen, the health and social pathogens heaved into the environment by our 131 million registered motor vehicles include not only the fossil fuel pollutants they emit but also the two million people they have killed here since 1900, and the five million people they injure annually, and, among many other health-diminishing pollutants, the noises and non-fueldebris they spew into our ears, our air, and our water. The Nixon administration environmental programs have done nothing about reducing the present ratio of one motor vehicle to every 1.6 Americans; nothing about mandating and funding the alternate forms of safe, swift, and nonpollutive mass transportation that can save this nation from the present killing density of motor vehicles. Instead, by setting the possibly unattainable goal of 'cleaner' emissions from our burgeining population of cars and trucks, the environmental 'reforms' of the People Pollute school have completely obscured the clinical reality that the saturation of our air with pathogenic fossil fuel emissions is only one of many ways in which our present biologically unsupportable density of motor vehicles degrades the entire human environment.” ; Chase, The Legacy of Malthus (; p.510, 529-30)

; ...Chase's book (The Legacy of Malthus. The Social Costs of the New Scientific Racism. p. 1980) actually has at its focus the long-lasted shadow from the (maintained) social and economical inequalities, which well-late were been backed w. some 'pseudo-sciences' (as Chase describes it, the scientific racism) - ie racially and socially discrimative 'results' been conjured, w. the aid from falsicated data (stats, tests), and then defended by various auctoritets, also cultivated via phraseology. …et other similar 'methods', usually targeting the poorest.

But, what brought my attention to this, was that it also had the mention from those People Pollute-slogans, popular at 1970s, and which also were tied relating to those intentioned, purposeful practices from blaming of the (expected) catastrophes the peoples themselves. Also – mostly – the general aim from not to do anything on the actual problems. (Enshortened, as Chase puts that on some place, denial of having any concern on ”...management of the problem of child, family, and environmental health problems”.) Esp. apparent (said it was) commonly cultivated/was meant evoke the false guilt from the ever expanding human population growth (While it had actually stabilized by that time...at the Northern 'developed countries').

; ...We may now of course think that such 'population/pollution guilt'-agenda is as much an aged relic as appear those prejudiced mumble jumbles (non-scientific 'proofs') lot discussed and dismantled in the book (Meaning the 'scientific cheats', incl., fx, those renown misguiding Binet-IQ-'tests' of the early century, and the falsified (and, racialised) claims from the pellagra and hook-worm for diseases passing within genes, the 1924 immigration law, the infamous sterilization laws, ...etc, plus various other aspects book discusses) ; Also you might consider that any direct comparison btw such aged stories w. the todays misbeliefs might be quite insignificant and any similarities only seemingly noticeable. I agree (it is). But– unlike the common belief - History never repeats itself, but the false steps in fact are cumulative.

; Also, only by coincidence, I happened then glance yet another text about this, that one been written by Chesterton. As a contemporary from that early 1900s/the discriminative era, he fx begins his essay with following sentences: 

 ”The wisest thing in the world is to cry out before you are hurt. ...People talk about the impatience of the populace; but sound historians know that most tyrannies have been possible because men moved too late. It is often essential to resist a tyranny before it exists. It is no answer to say, with a distant optimism, that the scheme is only in the air. A blow from a hatchet can only be parried while it is in the air.”  
(; on 'Eugenics and other evils', ...seems he published that on 1922, some two years before the actual passing from those tightened foreign policies at US, fx.) I'm not otherways referring on it, but I find it somewhat noteworthy an aspect, that it's precisely Chesterton, the most religious amongst any British novelist/writers of the 20^th century (...at least for my knowing), who should have taken strong opinions on that. 

 ; ...Becomes interesting from a view-point that these – shall we say – present consumerist attitudes on driving, have much in common w. the characteristics from that old 'eugenist cult', or the hereditarist quasi-sciences. Perhaps more than what meets the eye at first sight. There's certain similarity from creed on both ”cults”. Fx, (an exemplary of how are accepted and maintained some false beliefs): 'We want the cars, truckloads and all the evernew products. So let's remain in a good faith that it doesn't matter what the cost, or if the cost already has gone over the top.' ...Some bad way orthodoxy. (Our attitudes towards cars, vehicles, driving – Quite noticeable mostly rely, much, for a tradition.) Even more noticeably, there's much of a dogmatic thinking (on those attitudes). Fx even that, in the long-run, almost anything else actually would appear cheaper to the consumers and their surroundings, most societies still rely on an easiest choice (meaning the fuelled vehicles.) ...Actually, nothing but the same sort of a 'distant optimism' that Chesterton refers on what cited on above. It's some blindfold belief.

; ...Yet, maybe more directly relevant for the present days are, obviously, all the many side-effects from uses of cars and vehicles. It's not only those forever discussed emissions. Also, (the cars generate) fx noise, dust, the heat. Roadkills. And the spoiled landscapes. I think it actually nowadays, as much as before, proper say that people do pollute - even if it's stricktly said the motor vehicles making an actual direct cause to that pollution. (Whether or not you think it most appropriate putting the blame on shoulders of the common consumer, or, whether that would merely fall to some responsible from the business of it...). ; ...But, guess'll they think the modern eco-savy and more fuel-efficient vehicles now being developed, that would take care most of it. In fact, it's all (quite) minor ecologic advances in combined (While not unimportant, of course.) 

 ; Comes perhaps better understandable w. reminder from the wordly population count: Some 9 Bn peoples assumed the population amount ca at mid-century (...at least as it was the last time I glanced any forebodings). Ie, it's much more than that about some 6 Bn there now are. (Maybe, it might've yet have slowed down, as the projections seem often vary a bit, sometimes a lot...so maybe reaches only 7-8 by that time, but it's still the largest population amount in the whole recorded world history.) ...Traffic pollution tackled w. some eco-savy alterations and effectivity? No, it's the private cars you needed tackle for that to have any meaningful effect. And then, if you consider the production from steady new generations and models of the cars and vehicles, right out-from-the-factory, yearly. What the amount of an actual waste of material/resources that makes, indeed...

Quite the same is true, if this considered from a view-point of health (...I only mention that, as it's usually the sole reason people even choose from notice about the many disadvantages brought by driving.) Of course you can defend driving by saing it being nowadays quite impracticable to consider any return for some era prior the roads and traffic networks. Or, for the cartwheels and wagons. But, these modern alternative don't make any heavens either. (Quite unbelievable, but the public transport still remains relatively costly in comparison w. the driving.)

There's of course been all the said important restrictions/advancements on drive economics during the years; the lead-free gasolines, the more fuel-efficient cars, the recyclement practices. (So, they'd better have some effect, 'cause otherways they'll probably obliged put some limitations on the car-uses, after a few decades. And, oh gosh, how bad that would be for the business...) As well, it being so that usually is said the traffic making less from all the climatic stress, in combined – than what is caused by, fx, the vast expanded agricultural sector (The major causes; meat-o-markets and rainforests destruction, esp. during some preceded decades time...and other causes, in combined.)

'...and to Mock You, very very much...' ; However, what made me think about these things, more considerably, wasn't mainly due from those greatly distorted histories (on begins of this briefly referred), or even the various and somewhat questionable histories of the said 'people pollute'-campaigns on past 1970s. It was, in the first place, from that general inequality so inborn at our present thinkin' about the cars and our present human condition, what brought me to these views. The global inequality, more in particularly (If I consider my thinkin' from had any moral starting-point.) ; In essence, what a h.......t that usual speech from the blessings of the fuelled cars and vehicles. You pollute. I pollute. (The truth being said, no need pretending anything else about it.)

; The whole 'paradox' about, that human pollution and climatic burden, seems have a lot from logic of the dances macabres. (...It's like shaking the hip on edge from a huge deep, yellin' 'come on...join me'. But of course the grin from it soon becomes quite sad, inevitably.) People would do better if they stopped investing that much on the show, and paid a moment's though on how deep that gorge actually is. ...Almost, I can smell the brimstone, and the flames as well seem to reach for quite high.

; ...Of the very same reasons, I also have some distaste towards their repettance of that old mantra from worshipment of that golden pagan idolatry (sort of biblical metaphor, you may allow this...), so common and sacred at every modern society. Or - if you wish - that 'holy triangle' from the jobs, the economic growth, the constructions and builds. Actually, would be far better cast all those very false economics for the same trash-can from where they originated in the first place. Environmentally – and no less truth from any sustained economic view-point – only lasting solutions would appear the zero-growth. (...But has there ever been any any sustained economics, actually? I admit that I don't know, but I'm quite pessimistic of the human condition, presently...) ; And do you really believe that prices can rise endlessly? For everybody's benefit? I don't, and neither I care to pay for other people's greed, indifference, pollution. But, the reality is...all the silver clouds shining accross the picturesque sky beyond shoppin' mall, all the happy barns joggling in the Brand New fenced entertainment enclosure? - No, sooner or later comes around that man of a 'will and taste', and bye-bye for that happy facade... (So you should keep watch. Don't forget to your physical exercises either.) ; W-G.

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MSW Book Recommendation 43 : 'Towards that Northern unknown.'

Letters Written During a Short Residence in Sweden, Norway and Denmark

(by Mary Wollstonecraft, 1759-1797) ; Orig. p. on 1796.

And ;

Travels in the North

(by Karel Capek, 1890-1938)

; p. 1939 (George Allen, London) ; 269 p.

[Recommendation(s) I / 2015]

This features a few travel-books. I happened, quite randomly, to find these for some 'joint stories' (...If not from timing or otherways too much in common, the both travellers journeyed for Northern Europes at their times). This is, maybe, little summarily said; Originally I considered this to provide some travel books from voyages of the North towards the (then) 'obscure' lands of tropical latitudes. But, turned it out, that almost simultaneuosly, I run on these few books about travels to the North. We've so far had only few books presented of this 'genre' here;...The travel-stories, -diaries, or -letters, fx.  Alongside, I guess, I'll have to admit, the first mentioned - Wollstonecraft's Letters - I selected mainly due noticing it been recently translated to my domestic language. 

; ...Shoewalter's somewhat classic book (from the 1970s), on British feminine fiction of the 1800s, mentions her only by few sentences, precisely: ”The works of Mary Wollstonecraft were not widely read by the Victorians due to the scandals surrounding her life.”...Although also seems written on it, concerning Mary's influence to novelists of that Victorian era, that her Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) and the theoretical base outlined on it, predated the latter emerged pro women's rights-movement by some centurys time. (ie Suffragettes.) (...As said of that acc. Shoewalter...on the 'Literature of their own' ; p.15 and 176.) Mary Wollstonecraft of course wrote number other text in addition to this, but most else is more in form of commentary, or perhaps social educative...Or smthg similar, etc. ; However, from prewords on the translation (of the Letters), I also read that them around the time were most widely circulated, and actually most fancied from her writings (...like often usual.) ; ..That not too surprising, as the husband (William Godwin 1765-1836, The 'radical philosopher', she married soon after her journey and w. her the parent to their common daughter, Mary Shelley.) postward Mary's (Wollstonecraft) untimely death, couple years later, decided to publish the discussed travel-letters. And, as well, the reading public of the 'common' women, from men also, likely was on increase then, perhaps slowly but steadily.

Without going too lenghty on descriptions about the letters, or from Wollstonecraft's life, we can notice them written on her travels at North European countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway), during the summer from 1795. There were about twenty or more letters she wrote, during the journey. Reason to her going was seeking the recognition for her earlier born child from its father(...Born outside 'marital bond', ie her journey was rather unusual itself, since she was traveling with her child and without any male acquintances. However, perhaps more usual, that didn't bring the wished result. Except, of course, these letters we now have for to interest ourselves on and about...)

Mary's observations during her travel are rather variable, but often very enchanting reading, as lots on them also reflects her own personal inner life. Sometimes she has the more usual tone of a moral commentary – the 'tone' of the time, perhaps quite typical, and (maybe) araised of an upper-class conviction that origin of all amoral and vice, drunkness and decay (ie, etc.,) so observable at the everyday life and customs, lay on the 'uncultivated' virtue of the (so called) common people and corruption of the society. She then also finds interest on their diet and the peoples general character, ie fx how the 'less admirable' characteristics of any particular race might appear traceable for the unhealthiness of the usual food, the climate, et sim reasons – like also was a view shared by many on her times, probably. ...But even on that, her 'mood' is rather rarely judging and never abusive, merely she seems acc her writing on the letters to reflect a certain curiosity she finds on 'primitiviness' of these northern inhabitants (; 'The folk', peasants, merchants, fishers, sailors, etc...) ; ...At least one achieves this impression if comparing her 'tone' to that of some from her renown contemporary travel-writers, like fx Coleridge (S., 1772-1834) ; Thackeray (W., 1821-1863) ; ...or, fx Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832, - that humane spirit, and 'cultural giant' of the romantic era, who yet wasn't/couldn't be much described to any favorer of the democratisation (on society, if viewed by any modern criteria.) In short, there's not much anything similarly aristocratic on Mary's observations. Also she pays fx much attention to the general inequality, and the political-situation on countries she passes by, describes nationalities and (their) recent history. Also fx laws and customs, ao, are of her interest, alongside the landscape, towns and rural regions, fields...

; Mary's views much concern the important matter from education, which she – much in the light of her times rationalist ideal – finds crucial for any advancement of cultures of its backward level. (Illiteracy, fx, was still to her times rather common.) She also opinions that the advance(s) of humanity should best take place within the improvement of peoples surrounding environments – Ie, practically she finds for the very opposites, the 'evil' (or, static) in an 'untamed' (Nature), and the goods brought by civilization (….it's advancement, education, the Culture.) - rather commonplace views, actually. ...While all that she might have viewed as the advances (for humanity and virtue), we may now merely think to the questionable blessings, even destructive by many ways, at her times the said division was probably more apparent and straightforward: Ie the Nature still was truly wild and the civilization – or so was believed – was seen for represent an actual progress of the prevailed 'archaic state' ; ...Much on that same basis she arguments fx against that ridicule 'savage-ideal' presented by Rousseau (who's views then were commonly lot discussed amongst the 'elites', or upper-middle class.)

But, here now a short excerpt on Mary's (Wollstonecraft) views on those referred aspect(s):

”As the farmers cut away the wood they clear the ground. Every year, therefore, the country is becoming fitter to support the inhabitants. …The destruction, or gradual reduction, of their forests will probably ameliorate the climate, and their manners will naturally improve in the same ratio as industry requires ingenuity. It is very fortunate that men are a long time but just above the brute creation, or the greater part of the earth would never have been rendered habitable, because it is the patient labour of men, who are only seeking for a subsistence, which produces whatever embellishes existence, affording leisure for the cultivation of the arts and sciences that lift man so far above his first state. I never, my friend, thought so deeply of the advantages obtained by human industry as since I have been in Norway. The world requires, I see, the hand of man to perfect it, and as this task naturally unfolds the faculties he exercises, it is physically impossible that he should have remained in Rousseau's golden age of stupidity. And, considering the question of human happiness, where, oh where does it reside? Has it taken up its abode with unconscious ignorance or with the high-wrought mind? Is it the offspring of thoughtless animal spirits or the dye of fancy continually flitting round the expected pleasure?

[...] I am delighted with the romantic views I daily contemplate, animated by the purest air; and I am interested by the simplicity of manners which reigns around me. Still nothing so soon wearies out the feelings as unmarked simplicity. I am therefore half convinced that I could not live very comfortably exiled from the countries where mankind are so much further advanced in knowledge, imperfect as it is, and unsatisfactory to the thinking mind. ”  (; On the Letter IX)

; However, the few paragraphs (above) don't express all from her 'scale' of thought, or opinions, nearly. Fx, the Scandinavian forests, its limitless and 'untamed' wildwood (...at her time while that not nearly so anymore...), don't leave the traveller unimpressed. Forest(s), sort of, seem from reflect for her own (intense and anxied) emotions during the journey, and even serve of to calm and relieve those. It's actually very enchanting to read her admiring words devoted on the same wilderness(es) she finds as some 'obstacles' to the civilization's advance. In short, she's seems from notice – or, better said, to sense – not only the external on those boreal forests she passes by and little walks on (...the mosses, the pure air, the beasts, the majestetic trees), but also the internal. (...Meaning w. that) the goblin's hoblins – in a positive sense, not for as depressing or threatening – sound of cascades/the flow of brooks, and the 'hallucinations', ...to loan a little, of elsewhere, 'wood demons, tree spirits and fertility goddesses' – Although she, of course not sees anything like that, or at least not any mention in the text. 

; ...Reading the letters now, actually, one increasingly gets the impression that within the journey Mary becomes ever more obsessed by tensions and impressions araising of her romantic mood, experienced at those Northern forests, so 'pure' and free of a 'humanly vice'. As that seems to appear her - But it's not her sole topic of interest on these travel-notes, and not so much is devoted on forests than I've presented at this. (Neither in the similar vein.)

; So she also expresses smthg similar when writing about (her) emerged longing from to continue journeying towards far North, for more 'uncivilized' but yet also more 'honorable regions'. That neither very surprising, I suppose, actually seems it from originate of her own very intense curiosity on life, her own 'quest' from a better humanity. ...For she dreams (but shortly) about the imagined longgone 'early days', at the dawn of man, ie; ”...The description I received of them carried me back to the fables of the golden age: independence and virtue; affluence without vice; cultivation of mind …

My imagination hurries me forward to seek an asylum in such a retreat from all the disappointments I am threatened with; but reason drags me back, whispering that the world is still the world, and man the same compound of weakness and folly, who must occasionally excite love and disgust, admiration and contempt.” (; on the letter XIV) ;....Actually that (somewhat) resembles the very Rousseauist nature-idealisation as such – the same she so strongly rejects elsewhere (Even if strickly she doesn't make an actual reference to it.). But admittable, within her varying 'mood', she always also seems retain amount of realism, or that indispendable 'common sense'. Actually, in the light of this, not surprises perhaps the daughter, Mary Shelley, later having 'rebelled' against some simplification on these Mary's views described - via writing the book about that Rousseuist 'wild monster', ie, the Frankenstein-novel.

; ...So, lady travelled, observed those Northern regions and the peoples, then returned. (She makes a mention on some place from understanding that her journey would've been quite different, if it been carried during the winter season.) ...Reader is also left quite amazed of the strenght of her descriptions, particularly since we read the text knowing that only couple years after she had passed away.

Shorerocks on Atlantic/Arctic sea (Capeks drawings)

; Of the Capek's book– the other North European traveller of this post – there'd be probably equally much to remark...if I had the time and effort. Yet, I guess, no necessity here for too many paragraphs...As I've also not anyhow extensively viewed biographies of either (of these author's). Suffices to say that travellin' some one and half the century later, Capek [...spelling is actually w. the small 'arrow', or convex over C] journeys more w. the railways and ships, and generally – perhaps - a bit more in a manner we might find more usual for any regular 'tourists'. He also goes farther North than Mary, all the way until Nordkapp. ...But, also Capek writes very skillfully, of his observations a keen reader finds lot to learn. Like Mary, he also traveled throughpast Denmark, Sweden, Norway. And then there's fx that northern light they both find for as a source of a great amazement and wonder...

; Capek, famous Czech author during his days, also seems been renown of his anti-fascism on the 1930s, and as well was rather active at politics. His travel-book seems been published at 1939 on England – so, I just suppose, that papers were perhaps sent by him for publication shortward priorly, because of circumstances (Hitler on y. 1938 attaching the Sudetenlands, ao, for Germany - of details view the Wikip-entry on the Munich conference.). Likely Capek lost his life soon after it, as the nazi-troops bit later had invaded the rest from the country.

; However Capek, perhaps, most renown from have invented the word robot. ...It's said to originate from his 1920 play R.U.R. ('Rossumovi universaini roboti', the word itself 'translated' from czech word 'robota', ie (to) work. Briefly put (no lenghtier descriptions here), without Capek there wouldn't possible fx been any U.S.Robotics precisely. (Instead, perhaps it would've named to smtgh 'Especial automated mechanized artificats', no robots whatsoever by any term.) Even that the word now has most universal uses being understandable on most languages. (; Also reminded me this that past kids animation film on robots – by the WB, or some other filmfactory, p. around early from 2000s, and among the fewsome recent kids cartoons that even has a good plot. Not surprising, if it actually must've been based on that play by Capek.)

Finally, short excerpt of Capek's observations of the geologic formation of Sweden, it's 'rocky strata', the solid bedrock...I think it quite well descriptive and well show from that 'brevity' on his words and writing. Of course, he's also equally impressed by the 'untamed' Northern boreal forestscape than is Wollstonecraft at her days...Unfortunately we can't quote to this more examples of Capek's journey-description, so the notes below shall suffice: 

  ”...this is Sweden, the land of granite. Dark boulders and green pastures, dark woods, and silver birches, red cottages with white edges, black and white cows, black crows, black and white magpies, silvery strecthes of water, black junipers, and white spiraeas; black and white, red and green. And always more of those boulders; here scattered in the sea, here they pass into the wood, over they sprout up from the earth in the centre of a meadow, or a field of rye; erratic boulders as big as a house, rubble and ground granite sheets; all stones, but no grown rocks; only rolled on, piled up, heaps of boulders, my friend, but it's all Moraine as it stands in the book; an ice sheet formed this land; only over there, on the Danish side, has it left a bit of a space for the alluvium to show what it can do. But that is merely Cambrian and Silurian; While this, old chap, this is the oldest rock; where would chalk be here, or sandstone! Do you remember how at home, in the woods of your childhood, you used to find erratic boulders of granite? There too, they say, they were brought by an ice sheet. So then we ought to be as if at home here in the Primary rocks.

[…] And so that's why I shall say the important and greatest word: woods. They say that six-tenths of Sweden are covered with forests, but I think that there are still more of those woods; and these are the kind of woods which most probably grew in the first fifty or hundred years when Nature was only finding out how the northern growth is made; such an, should I say, abundance is here, of exuberant and original ideas. Not that there might grow, God knows what; without exception it is spruce and fir, pine birch, and dark alder, not to speak of juniper; always, and endlessly, the same, but you don't grow weary of it, my friend, and you can see the end of that abundance of vegetation. ...a Nordic jungle, a fairy-tale wood, a wood of gnomes and giants, a real Germanic wood, and a huge wood factory; elks, all chin and nose, with splayed antlers, are still running about here, and I shouldn't wonder very much if a wolf wouldn't also be here, Red Riding Hood, the unicorn, and other wild beasts.”, ...etc. (; p. 39-40, 44-6)

'Lakeside-view' (Capeks drawings)

; ...However, at least as impressive than his remarks are Capek's drawings, ...Likely made originally w. the pencil (or ink, or tusch, whatever the method). These cover most of regions on his route, containing the fields and the hay-stacks, farms, and the forest ; fjords and mountains ; occasionally the people, and likewise depicting also their dwellings. (So beside text, and below I placed few selections) ; ...It's actually because of his pictures I favored the book, for presently – in the age of the internets, on-line connections, travel-blogs, etc, etc. - just this kind of books aren't made anymore. It's now, more or less, photos and text...less smtgh where text and drawings flow so uniform, creating smthg 'artful'. ...And esp. because of these drawings story has certain element of timedness, uncomparable. 

 

Very enjoyable old travel-books, both of the recommended. (; G.U.J.)

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'Clouded mountainheads' (Capeks drawings) 

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(; ...The riders? ...this no part on that series...)


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Kit - chen

- Series of view-points on Commonwealth ; pt IV.

”It will not, I am sure, come as a surprise to any of my readers that I was thinking of the problem Sirius had with a privileged class, which seems to re-create itself constantly and everywhere. [...] I have more than once put forward the view that the possibility is we exaggerate the importance of this phenomenom. If a corrupt class can be expected to form, always and invariably, then this is as a result of, concomitant with, the strenghtening and enlarging of a larger, and generally vigorous and active, class on which the effete one float like scum on a wave. Has there ever been a society without its spoiled and rotten minority? Would it not be better simply to expect this, and to legislate limits to what cannot be prevented, rather than allowing fear of it to prevent any reforming efforts to be made at all – for that was what tended to happen. There was for a time – students of this particular sociological problem will be familiar with it – a very vocal faction putting forward the point of view that there is no point whatever in making revolutions (this was particularly strong after the rebellions on our Colonised Planets during the last phase of our Dark Age) because any revolution, no matter how pure and inspired, can be guaranteed to produce a privileged class within a generation. Worse, it was held that it was useless even to reform and reconstruct a society, for the same reason.

[…] It is my view now, after what I am sure must be conceded as a pretty long and thorough experience, that there is nothing to be done to prevent an effete class; it can be postponed for a time, at the best. But it certainly can be circumscribed, and a difficulty in the way of such circumscription is always a too-violent, an emotional judgement of such – after all – weak and pointless people. There has never been a self-indulgent privileged class that has not destroyed itself, or allowed itself to be destroyed, almost as soon as it has come into being and grown, and flourished...temporarily.” ; Doris Lessing. The Sirian Experiments. Canopus Argos: Archives, pt III (; p. 137-8.)

”... I shall end this chapter and this book by remarking on a fact on which the whole social system should rest: i.e. that, instead of destroying natural inequality, the fundamental compact substitutes, for such physical inequality as nature may have set up between men, an equality that is moral and legitimate, and that men, who may be unequal in strength or intelligence, become every one equal by convention and legal right.

… In fact, laws are always of use to those who possess and harmful to those who have nothing: from which it follows that the social state is advantageous to men only when all have something and none too much.” ; Rousseau, The Social Contract (Book I - Real property.)

...These above observations by Lessing (well, Rousseau also, underline added for the quote) appear quite self-evident, 'guess on these remarks any further commentary of mine not necessary...at this particular case.

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 ; ...So, I instead decided provide and recommend for my fellow-men and mainmortables this tasty recipe (Soup prepared from the Chickpea). 

 ; You only need: Couple dl chickpeas; some leek; some swede ; some tomatoes; broth; grated cheese;  spices (I used mint, parshley, black pepper).

; ...Preparement is simple, just fry the (precooked) chickpeas in the oil for a short time, add then slices leek, tomatoes and swede. Next add broth, spices. Let cook smtgh like 20 minutes.  Lastly, add the grated cheese for the heated soup. Serve on plates or small cups..

Very tasty, easy make on anytime you have some 10-15 minutes spare for preparing the meal.

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'Of mortgages and mortified matters'

/ Series of view-points on Commonwealth, pt III.

; ...B-t-w, happens that my comments on Wells, at the preceded post and on an earlier some, left unmentioned of the strong pacifistic emphasization at some of his works. Even though it is more usually noted from Wells that he, like the most intellectuels on his times on post WW I years, felt some depressing disillusionment. (Largely due from having put high hopes on humanity's capability from to learn about its past mistakes, ao things.) Also, it is usually noted people prior the second World War to have quite commonly expected the new war to break out anytime, during those 'midwar'-years (ie the 1920s-30s). 

; But, when now reading some parts of War in the Air (novel, p. 1908), one soon discovers that it mostly 'swims' against the general war enthusiasm of its times. I mean, despite the choice of topic, and, at the time, typical excitedness about those 'aviatic visions' (that were referred here on the former post), book has quite strong pacifistic tone. (...Not so usual fx in the modern popular fiction today, even that there are of course nowadays far wider assortment of the adventurist- and war-books, thrillers and high-tech detective literature, scifi-stories, social anticipations...etc, limitless from 'genre et scope'.). In short, I briefly picked fx chapters 'The battle of the North Atlantic', and 'How war came to New York', as some examples. ; The followed quote is from the former mentioned, seems it also often interpreted as example on Wells's foreboding from old-fashioness and archaism of the battle-ships at the modern warfare. ...But, in fact the tone on it is mainly anti-militaristic. (Albeit, Wells's pacifism is better remembered from his international activity postward the first world war.) ;

 

"So it was that Bert Smallways saw the first flight of the airship and the last fight of those strangest things in the whole history of war: the ironclad battleships, which began their career with the floating batteries of the Emperor Napoleon III in the Crimean war and lasted, with an enormous expenditure of human energy and resources, for seventy years. In that space of time the world produced over twelve thousand five hundred of these strange monsters, in schools, in types, in series, each larger and heavier and more deadly than its predecessors. Each in its turn was hailed as the last birth of time, most in their turn were sold for old iron. Only about five per cent of them ever fought in a battle. Some foundered, some went ashore, and broke up, several rammed one another by accident and sank. The lives of countless men were spent in their service, the splendid genius, and patience of thousands of engineers and inventors, wealth and material beyond estimating; to their account we must put, stunted and starved lives on land, millions of children sent to toil unduly, innumerable opportunities of fine living undeveloped and lost. Money had to be found for them at any cost - that was the law of nation's existence during that strange time. Surely they were the weirdest, most destructive and wasteful megatheria in the whole history of mechanical invention." (; ...underline added, 'cause nowadays we know also lot better from all that too...)

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; ...Along our 'serious business' here (Happy New year, b-t-w...), we have this ongoing business on the continuing series from Donald. So, this sequel here is from his wild bachelor years, that 'long gone era' before him having met the Daisy. After all, it's a few things in life that so much promote peoples emotions and tensions than are marriage and the crime, the war and battle-front of the sexes. (...If this feels too striking in contrast for what presented on previous paragraph, I emphasize that it's not my intention here to entertain. ...But everybody needs a little variation, for change. :)

 ; ...'Cause nobody, possibly, couldn't have resisted the Boss's secretary, of course, that's quite certain...

; ..."Bummer in the Summer", and "Panchita's Way", possibly, also would have been quite irresistible to most henpecked men, not shows from anyhow irresponsibility on behaviours...

 

 ; ...And that 'Prize Cow' then, well, 'guess that doesn't need any explanatory comment either...

; ...But, of course, then came along Daisy (née mrs Burnett-Bluntsword), and Donald's days were numbered...

(...and, as we can see of that, also cashier and credit soon got heavily exhausted.; But no cats and haystacs this time, we're only in it for the duck liberation front, ya know... )

; ...The selected pics of the various archives, ie of Barksian- and Mickey-comics (; Including, but not limiting for 'Donald Duck in the old time California'). 

(This series...to be concluded some time in the close, or perhaps, not on any so close futures.)

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