Aubrey is very well remembered by archaeologists, particularly for his description of Stonehenge. A feature of the site--pits cut in the chalk and filled with cremated remains, are named after him: the Aubrey holes.
I happen to be reading Aubrey right now. He's wonderful. I think you're right to stress the "strangeness in these details, which we cannot resolve or investigate," as well as the charming “in-itself-ness.” There's really nothing else like it in our language. I can't quite imagine the Brief Lives in a theatre, but would have loved to have seen it.
Aubrey’s interest in anecdata and enthusiasm for facts from all walks of life seems predictive of the panoramic early novel. E.g., Henry Fielding seems to have pioneered crime statistics in his job as a London magistrate.
Duchess Theatre London 1998. He had just been diagnosed with lung cancer. He died three years later. Judi Dench was there on opening night. She was meant to be in Hollywood. Nominated for an Oscar.
The image of Thomas Fuller eating a penny loaf 'not knowing that he did it' is the ultimate biographical anchor. It captures the terrifying gap between the 'working head' and the physical body—the substrate of the man operating while the mind is miles away in a mnemonic exercise. We spend so much time polishing the 'Life' that we forget the most honest things we do are the ones we do unconsciously. Aubrey’s genius was in realizing that the watch’s ticking—the 'devil inside'—is often just the rhythm of our own neuroses. A stunning tribute to the patron saint of the high-fidelity detail.
Aubrey is very well remembered by archaeologists, particularly for his description of Stonehenge. A feature of the site--pits cut in the chalk and filled with cremated remains, are named after him: the Aubrey holes.
Oh fascinating !
I only know about Aubrey because I am an Anthony Powell completist and so I read his book John Aubrey and His Friends.
one of the few Powell’s I have not read…
I happen to be reading Aubrey right now. He's wonderful. I think you're right to stress the "strangeness in these details, which we cannot resolve or investigate," as well as the charming “in-itself-ness.” There's really nothing else like it in our language. I can't quite imagine the Brief Lives in a theatre, but would have loved to have seen it.
Aubrey’s interest in anecdata and enthusiasm for facts from all walks of life seems predictive of the panoramic early novel. E.g., Henry Fielding seems to have pioneered crime statistics in his job as a London magistrate.
Duchess Theatre London 1998. He had just been diagnosed with lung cancer. He died three years later. Judi Dench was there on opening night. She was meant to be in Hollywood. Nominated for an Oscar.
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I saw Michael Williams play John Aubrey in Brief Lives in a theatre. Spellbinding..
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Jealous! That’s the play that inspired the Telegraphs obituary column
The image of Thomas Fuller eating a penny loaf 'not knowing that he did it' is the ultimate biographical anchor. It captures the terrifying gap between the 'working head' and the physical body—the substrate of the man operating while the mind is miles away in a mnemonic exercise. We spend so much time polishing the 'Life' that we forget the most honest things we do are the ones we do unconsciously. Aubrey’s genius was in realizing that the watch’s ticking—the 'devil inside'—is often just the rhythm of our own neuroses. A stunning tribute to the patron saint of the high-fidelity detail.
Fascinating.
Wonderful piece! As you say, indispensable Aubrey. The Roy Dotrice one man show Brief Lives (shortened from its original 3 hours) is on YouTube
A marvellous read, thank you!