I like the whole comment but I *love* the observation about the phallus as ventriloquist, that's really insightful.
Although in defense of Joyce's male heirs, Coetzee managed to imagine himself into a female novelist who has become famous for a book re-writing Ulysses from Molly's point of view. Elizabeth Costello is a feat of ventriloquism worthy of the ancient father: a new painting in the style of the master, not a photocopy. I hadn't thought about this but J. M. is resisting exactly the tendency you describe.
Best anglophone writer alive and he’s only gotten better in his 80s. Ravelstein (by his UChicago predecessor lol) is nice but the Jesus trilogy will define 2010s fiction when people look back.
That is a funny take from Trilling, is that from the Liberal Imagination? Really goes to show how political readings of novels are always shaped against our will by the prevailing mood of the time.
I believe it is! His including Proust in that roster is a real headscratcher too-I haven’t finished it but my understanding is that ISOLT is pretty much an apolitically liberal work
I like the whole comment but I *love* the observation about the phallus as ventriloquist, that's really insightful.
Although in defense of Joyce's male heirs, Coetzee managed to imagine himself into a female novelist who has become famous for a book re-writing Ulysses from Molly's point of view. Elizabeth Costello is a feat of ventriloquism worthy of the ancient father: a new painting in the style of the master, not a photocopy. I hadn't thought about this but J. M. is resisting exactly the tendency you describe.
Thanks! I really need to get more Coetzee, what with him receiving the Secret Squirrel Seal of Approval so many times in my comments
Best anglophone writer alive and he’s only gotten better in his 80s. Ravelstein (by his UChicago predecessor lol) is nice but the Jesus trilogy will define 2010s fiction when people look back.
I have seen Joseph Strick’s ULYSSES - in 1977 at UCLA - survey of Modern literature class
That is a funny take from Trilling, is that from the Liberal Imagination? Really goes to show how political readings of novels are always shaped against our will by the prevailing mood of the time.
I believe it is! His including Proust in that roster is a real headscratcher too-I haven’t finished it but my understanding is that ISOLT is pretty much an apolitically liberal work