No, I didn't.
I'll check that story of Miller.
When in Malta, were you studying Malthusianism?
The tailor shop story might be in a biog.Can't remember for sure.Was it Fitzgerald?Might even be the Pullar biog of FH,wich is unfair but excellent.It's all a good subject though.Wilde said that FH had been invited to every decent house in London.Once!
In Malta no Malthus.I was on wages.
Do you give lectures or attend them?FH studied in Paris too.There's a good story about that in LL.
Francis:-
I got it wrong.Robert Ferguson is the name.Henry Miller A Life.There are nine index references to FH but the tailors shop story is on p 35.
My pleasure is to give...
RF/FH - OK!
What about Mailer?
Miller didn't care for Mailer,despite Genius and Lust.
He didn't care for the whole New York thing.
But Mailer is a great journalist.No doubt about that.
I thought that the second half of Executioner's Song was quite illuminating.I've read all Mailer.He's pretty daring I must say.There's no excuse for soft pedalling after Mailer.Ancient Evenings impressed me but little compares to a certain little list of Frenchmen.
Have you tried writing?
I've not tried. I did...
What about you?
Mountains of the stuff but I lack discipline.Sitting in a room typing is not my idea of living.I have a great book in my head but I'll never do it.It concerns a group of powerful women who run the show behind the scenes using graduating addictions and blackmail (not money).My hero,Jacko, is persuaded out of early retirement to sort it out by promises of rehabilitation.He's Lucien grown wise and cynical.
Do you like Stendahl?
Some of his works like "La Chartreuse de Parme".
As a matter of fact, I have no special attraction to which the colors red and black are connected to.
Could you benefit from a coach?
Francis:-you mean you don't like the ending to the R&B.Bodes ill for young bloods eh?Lucien is best apart from the woman he had in Italy.He'd a been off to shack up with the Chasteller woman.A woman knows when she's loved that much.He can take his time.
No coaches.No springs,no smooth roads,no in-car entertainment.(Well now and again maybe-in fictions).And those flea-ridden inns.No thanks.
Do I guess correctly when I think you might like coaches?
I was just thinking of discipline. I dont like coaches.
Do you know Alessandro Manzoni?
OOOooooh.Silly me.COACHES.Personal trainer stuff.My mind doesn't run that way.
Don't know Manzoni.
And it is pub time.See you soon.
Having a pint is ok.
Wouldn't you like this thread going on again?
For sure Francis.
I can talk about literature for ever.
I had a hint about that.
What was your question?
Okay.
Who is Alessandro Manzoni?
In my view, he is the Italian counterpart of Stendhal, with a touch of Flaubert.
Manzoni biography
Apart Flaubert and Stendhal, which other French authors do you appreciate?
Proust of course.
I love Flaubert's idea of a book about nothing.
Those three seem to me to be above everything.
Is that your take?
Yeah, nice take. Not in the same track, I would add Zola...
What about the British?
There's FH but he was Irish.Joyce,also Irish.
Of the real English I think Sir Henry Rider Haggard comes nearest to the fab 3 but not in all his books.
The standouts are King Solomon's Mines,She and Ayesha.We seem best at biography.
There's so many good books though.I think in general that married men are at a disadvantage and particularly those with daughters.They seem at a loss describing women.I forget who said that he couldn't publish a book whilst his mother was still alive.
Can you understand that?
I can understand everything when explained gently.
Having no special problems when talking to people (men or women), I think that trait has to do with a bit of misogyny inherent to a given society.
Or is it a rebellion againt a matriarchal society?
Do you think it's the case in Britain?
