Subject
Re: Auberon Waugh: Book of the Century (fwd)
Date
Body
from Mary Krimmel
mary.krimmel@fanciful.org
-> Does this provide him with a decent reason to prefer it to the "more
-> finely written" 'Pale Fire' in the book of the century poll?
We don't have to assume anything to ask the question "What book is the
Book of the Century?"
I don't even know whether there is an official effort to get a
consensus (sounds impossible to me) or whether anyone can get on a
soapbox and name his choice. If it's unofficial, a nominator should give
his reasons. (And if by any chance it's official, will someone enlighten
me?)
It never occurred to me that Waugh was serious, but if being
influential is to be the criterion, nothing by Nabokov stands a chance.
Consider Dr. Spock's 'Baby and Child Care' or Hitler's 'Mein Kampf',
both among the choices for the NY Library's "Books of the Century" (not
the twentieth, but the library's slightly earlier one), which based its
selections on their influence.
If we're looking for fine writing, I'll second the nomination of 'Pale
Fire'.
Mary Krimmel
mary.krimmel@fanciful.org
-> Does this provide him with a decent reason to prefer it to the "more
-> finely written" 'Pale Fire' in the book of the century poll?
We don't have to assume anything to ask the question "What book is the
Book of the Century?"
I don't even know whether there is an official effort to get a
consensus (sounds impossible to me) or whether anyone can get on a
soapbox and name his choice. If it's unofficial, a nominator should give
his reasons. (And if by any chance it's official, will someone enlighten
me?)
It never occurred to me that Waugh was serious, but if being
influential is to be the criterion, nothing by Nabokov stands a chance.
Consider Dr. Spock's 'Baby and Child Care' or Hitler's 'Mein Kampf',
both among the choices for the NY Library's "Books of the Century" (not
the twentieth, but the library's slightly earlier one), which based its
selections on their influence.
If we're looking for fine writing, I'll second the nomination of 'Pale
Fire'.
Mary Krimmel