Ancient laughter: Aristophanes
Because it seeks to challenge ideas, satire uses methods designed to make its audience think, and so effect their change of attitude themselves. It uses oblique methods. Parody, which exaggerates … Continue reading
Ancient laughter: Petronius
For every great writer we have there is an ocean of ephemera. We read One Hundred Years of Solitude while exposed to Mills and Boon romances, SF magazines TV series … Continue reading
Bestsellers
I’ve been fascinated by best sellers for a long time. One of the main attractions has been how the very concept obscures the distinction between great literature, or ‘culture’, and … Continue reading
The Strange Case of Doctor Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle was the most highly paid, and among the most popular and most celebrated British authors of his day. In the period between 1890 and 1910 he was … Continue reading
Psappho: priestess, prostitute, poet, Lesbian
I’ve just finished reading Arthur Weigall’s Sappho of Lesbos again. I’m a poor sifter through second hand book stalls, and I picked it up over ten years ago and enjoyed … Continue reading
The Sixth and Seventh Simenon Omnibus
Maigret and the Wine Merchant was first published as Maigret et le marchand de vin in 1970. It was translated by Eileen Ellenbogen. Oscar Chabut was a very successful man. … Continue reading
The Fifth Simenon Omnibus
Maigret’s Boyhood Friend was first published as L’Ami d’enfance de Maigret in 1968. It was translated into English by Eileen Ellenbogen. Leon Florentin is Maigret’s boyhood friend, with whom he … Continue reading
