Thanks all. I worry I may be urging people to read Pierre. Beware! No stranger book was ever published by a major author, though it has its fans. In retrospect, Victorian prudery over sex really sucked (uh, did I say that right?); if Melville wanted us to think about incest, why the hell couldn't he have written about it head on?, ditto the homosexuality hinted at in Billy Budd. I'm all for reticence, it can have its own unique power, but, again, honest frankness would have been no bad thing.
Fascinating and cogent, Walter. Funny: our son in law stayed with us (and our daughter and their baby) for an extended recent spell. He took PIERRE off my shelf, and I remember4d how dense it was... but that was about it, though I recall doing a grad school paper on it. You move me to take it up again.
Thanks all. I worry I may be urging people to read Pierre. Beware! No stranger book was ever published by a major author, though it has its fans. In retrospect, Victorian prudery over sex really sucked (uh, did I say that right?); if Melville wanted us to think about incest, why the hell couldn't he have written about it head on?, ditto the homosexuality hinted at in Billy Budd. I'm all for reticence, it can have its own unique power, but, again, honest frankness would have been no bad thing.
Another excellent column. Unique and refreshing. Thank you.
Still thinking of Melville’s slipperily sadness stirring snug sofa.
Alright then, time to dig out and dust off the novel I wrote in the 90's about the 60's. Time has come at last!
Bosworth's new book has a great section re. Melville and the travails of genius truth-tellers in their own times.
This is another terrific essay, Walter!
Fascinating and cogent, Walter. Funny: our son in law stayed with us (and our daughter and their baby) for an extended recent spell. He took PIERRE off my shelf, and I remember4d how dense it was... but that was about it, though I recall doing a grad school paper on it. You move me to take it up again.