What a delightful conversation about one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed this exchange thoroughly. In particular, an interviewer who gives a guest time to fully explore their thoughts provides such a hospitable listen. It is easy to forget Austen developed her style independent of literary circles and ahead of other writers of her time. What a good model for those of us who are scribbling away in the margins and well outside of academia or mainstream publishing.
So happy I listened rather than read the transcript. I don't think I have had a more entertaining hour this year. (And Jane did participate in plays!!)
Oh and as for Iris Murdoch – I thought one virtue of A Severed Head is that it is very short, so even though it is unbelievable, it goes through its alarming changes of partners without outstaying it's welcome. This could not be said for The Book and the Brotherhood, which is excessively long at 600 pages: despite being about the production of an unfinished political work, it is very uninterested in ideas and so you mostly just get the interweaving lives of people who don't like each other anymore (the first chapter is very good though).
Loved this conversation! A great chaser to reading all of her novels this year. John's insights here and in his book really enriched the experience.
The Iris Murdoch exchange made me chuckle - Henry's audible gasp when John mentioned The Sea, The Sea as one he revisited and found silly and the tone of John's "Oh" when Henry said how much he liked The Sea, The Sea.
Outlander, by Diane Gabaldon, has sold about 40 million copies (I think). So I doubt that you are the only person on the planet who knows anything about Culloden and 1746.
What a delightful conversation about one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed this exchange thoroughly. In particular, an interviewer who gives a guest time to fully explore their thoughts provides such a hospitable listen. It is easy to forget Austen developed her style independent of literary circles and ahead of other writers of her time. What a good model for those of us who are scribbling away in the margins and well outside of academia or mainstream publishing.
Great. I will read them all again even bloody Emma. As well as Virginia's criticism, which I didn't know about. Thank you.
So happy I listened rather than read the transcript. I don't think I have had a more entertaining hour this year. (And Jane did participate in plays!!)
Thoroughly enjoyed that. So insightful. Thank you.
isn’t he splendid
This was such a wonderful conversation– it's made me eager to jump back into reading Austen again!
Oh and as for Iris Murdoch – I thought one virtue of A Severed Head is that it is very short, so even though it is unbelievable, it goes through its alarming changes of partners without outstaying it's welcome. This could not be said for The Book and the Brotherhood, which is excessively long at 600 pages: despite being about the production of an unfinished political work, it is very uninterested in ideas and so you mostly just get the interweaving lives of people who don't like each other anymore (the first chapter is very good though).
I really enjoyed this! You should get Piketty on, that would be funny.
Thanks! Haha yes that would be fun
He has pretty good English.
I had never heard of the Silver Fork novels. Might be a fun reading club idea.
fantastic!
Loved this conversation! A great chaser to reading all of her novels this year. John's insights here and in his book really enriched the experience.
The Iris Murdoch exchange made me chuckle - Henry's audible gasp when John mentioned The Sea, The Sea as one he revisited and found silly and the tone of John's "Oh" when Henry said how much he liked The Sea, The Sea.
Ah glad this is back! I was TRULY shocked at what he said about The Sea The Sea…. Much fun for me though a real high point
Outlander, by Diane Gabaldon, has sold about 40 million copies (I think). So I doubt that you are the only person on the planet who knows anything about Culloden and 1746.