Thursday, April 4, 2024

Into the Archive: An Abundance and an Annoyance

 


Freud’s Last Session (DVD, March 2024, 1 Hour 48 Minutes, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)

“London, September 3rd, 1939. The world is on the brink of war. In his final days, Sigmund Freud (Anthony Hopkins), a recent escapee with his daughter from the Nazi regime, receives a visit from the formidable Oxford Don, author C.S. Lewis (Matthew Goode). On this day, two of the greatest minds of the twentieth century intimately engage in a monumental session over the belief in the future of mankind and the existence of God.” – Amazon.

Movies about C. S. Lewis are becoming quite the cottage industry; not bad for a fusty old English apologist who’s been dead for as long as I’ve been alive. But the truth is, I suppose, is that’s he’s more alive (certainly livelier) than most of the famous people of his time or many of those who are chasing fame today. It seems strange that Anthony Hopkins, who played Lewis himself in Shadowlands, should be playing his antagonist (which might be a strong term; they are both quite cordial) now. I can’t help but think that this movie was influenced by The Question of God by Dr. Armand M. Nicholi Jr., which uses a similar debate between the two men to examine their views on life and religion (update: I find now that it is).


 

Dragon Slayer: The Story of Beowulf, by Rosemary Sutcliff (Puffin Books, 1961; This Edition 1986, Illustrations by Charles Keeping) That was the cover I was expecting, which was bad enough; this is the cover I got:

Not the one I would have chosen (and there were several to choose from), but at least it retains the interior artwork by Charles Keeping, which I have seen everywhere for years when looking for Beowulf illustrations. Rosemary Sutcliff was famous when I was a child for her numerous retellings of myths and legends (which I would have thought would be right in my wheelhouse), but somehow I never did feel compelled to read any of her works. I suppose now I have come to it and shall soon see if I have been missing anything. The subject of Beowulf would certainly be a good place to start.

 

Finn and Hengest (Old English and English Edition) Paperback – January 1, 1998, (192 Pages, Harper Collins)

“Tolkien's famous translations and lectures on the story of two fifth-century heroes in northern Europe. Professor J.R.R.Tolkien is most widely known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but he was also a distinguished scholar in the field of Mediaeval English language and literature. His most significant contribution to Anglo-Saxon studies is to be found in his lectures on Finn and Hengest (pronounced Hen-jist), two fifth-century heroes in northern Europe. The story is told in two Old English poems, Beowulf and The Fights at Finnesburg, but told so obscurely and allusively that its interpretation had been a matter of controversy for over 100 years. Bringing his unique combination of philological erudition and poetic imagination to the task, however, Tolkien revealed a classic tragedy of divided loyalties, of vengeance, blood and death. Tolkien's original and persuasive solution of the many problems raised by the story ranged widely through the early history and legend of the Germanic peoples. The story has the added attraction that it describes the events immediately preceding the first Germanic invasion of Britain which was led by Hengest himself. This book will be of interest not only to students of Old English and all those interested in the history of northern Europe and Anglo-Saxon England, but also admirers of The Lord of the Rings who will be fascinated to see how Tolkien handled a story which he did not invent.” – Amazon

I have had the hardback original for years, but now feel somehow that this softcover would be a handy copy to browse in. The cover art by John Howe and handy modern binding certainly make it appealing. A bit of a shock, I suppose, to the Tolkien fan who comes to it just off of watching the Peter Jackson films.

 

Beowulf and the North before the Vikings (Past Imperfect) Paperback – August 31, 2022 (136 Pages, Arc Humanities Press)

by Tom Shippey 

“Ever since Tolkien’s famous lecture in 1936, it has been generally accepted that the poem Beowulf is a fantasy, and of no use as a witness to real history. This book challenges that view, and argues that the poem provides a plausible, detailed, and consistent vision of pre-Viking history which is most unlikely to have been the poet’s invention, and which has moreover received strong corroboration from archaeology in recent years. Using the poem as a starting point, historical, archaeological, and legendary sources are combined to form a picture of events in the North in the fifth and sixth centuries: at once a Dark and a Heroic Age, and the time of the formation of nations. Among other things, this helps answer two long-unasked questions: why did the Vikings come as such a shock? And what caused the previous 250 years of security from raiders from the sea?” – Amazon

The purchase prompted, of course, by my late enjoyment of Shippey’s book, Laughing Shall I Die. I’m on an Anglo-Saxon, Viking kick.


Mickelsson’s Ghosts by John Gardner (612 Pages; 1982)

And not here yet: “Gardner’s final novel: a delicate tapestry of literary genres that create a wonderfully mysterious and ambitious narrative.    As Peter Mickelsson’s brilliant career as a professor at Brown University winds down, he suffers from alcoholism and is on the brink of divorce. Seeking a new start, Mickelsson moves to an old farmhouse in the Pennsylvania countryside to take a position at Bingham University. But when mysterious supernatural events begin to occur, it becomes clear that these new surroundings will not provide a refuge for this troubled man, but rather prompt an introspective look into the ultimate value of his life’s work.   With distinctive style and linguistic mastery, author John Gardner weaves together a string of extraordinary plots that culminate in an unforgettable conclusion.” – Amazon

Well, I don’t know, maybe it’s cursed or something. Gardner’s final book before his tragic death. Instead of seeing him at South West Texas State University as a visiting professor, we had to settle for this depressing last offering. For years I had a hardback copy (sans jacket); it did not conform to the rest of my paperback Gardners and I found reading it heavy going. I eventually sold it. Recently I felt as if I should give it another go, and as a copy was only about $20 (Condition Used; Very Good), I ordered it with all the other items here, and from the same company as Dragon Slayer, with which it was paired.

Well, I saw on Amazon this morning that everything would be arriving today. I waited on the porch as I imagined it all would be too much to fit in the mailbox. I saw the mail truck come and pass, and a few moments later I went in, got the box key, and went out to see what had come. There were four of the items, but not, as it happened, Mickelsson’s Ghosts. I went in and checked Amazon. It declared that it had been duly delivered.

Well, it was a pretty big book, too big to fit in the mail slot. When such things happen, the more conscientious postal worker will bring it up to the porch; the lazier will sometimes leave it sticking half-way out of the box. In that circumstance, the best outcome would be that Susan noticed it when she was going out to work. The worst would be that some dishonest passing pedestrian (and there were several walkers as I watched) plucked it out and made off with it.

Other possibilities: it was accidentally delivered to a neighbor’s house and they have not had an opportunity to bring it over (or they have no intention to do so), or the postal worker may have somehow accidentally left it in their load and will deliver it on finding their mistake. Whatever happened, IT IS NOT HERE.

I don’t know, cursed or something.

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