Frank, that particular phrase caught my eye as well at the end of your review. Good piece of writing, that. It's also helpful because I have been wavering back and forth on whether or not I should give Cormac's book a try. Now I know that I won't. I'm tired of depressing stories.
The pornography of despair is a really great phrase, I agree. I think it summarizes a whole trend in apocalyptic writing, going back a long ways, which has never felt right to me.
Then again, I don't believe in apocalypse. I believe in apocatastasis.
Wow, apocatastasis. Just pronouncing the word makes you realize you're going too far out. Looking it up, led me to this poem:
By James Stephens (1882-1950)
The Fullness of Time
On a rusty iron throne Past the furthest star of space I saw Satan sit alone, Old and haggard was his face; For his work was done and he Rested in eternity.
And to him from out the sun Came his father and his friend Saying, now the work is done Enmity is at an end: And he guided Satan to Paradises that he knew.
Gabriel without a frown, Uriel without a spear, Raphael came singing down Welcoming their ancient peer, And they seated him beside One who had been crucified.
No wonder we're so simpatico, Art. So do I - though I know I'm not supposed to. Have you read Berdyaev by any chance? And thanks for that poem, Rus. Have you ever read Stephens's The Crock of Gold?
That phrase also stood out to me in a way that really rings true. I think you've coined a new term. I'm going to start using whenever I talk about this kind of fiction.
Merton's essays in "Disputed Questions" that referred to Berdyaev led to read him, too, although I wouldn't say I feel that I have thoroughly read Berdyaev. I know that some Russian/Eastern Orthodox writers dispute Merton's interpretation, too, although I think that's because they're stuck, not because Merton was wrong in his interpretation. I like what I've read of Berdyaev, indeed.
Thanks too for posting the Muir poem, which is one of his many quiet mind-bomb masterpieces. I am also a fan of his student and fellow Orkneyman, George Mackay Brown.
Apocalyptic Liturature in Jewish (Book of Daniel) and Christian (Book of Revelation) are, in fact, anything but despair. Yes, the images are frightening - and occasionally downright terrifying - but the message of essnce is HOPE. ... a time is coming when all that seeks to destroy will be destroyed and hope, abundant life will reign. In essence the Easter message: transforming Resurrection.
Frank, that particular phrase caught my eye as well at the end of your review. Good piece of writing, that. It's also helpful because I have been wavering back and forth on whether or not I should give Cormac's book a try. Now I know that I won't. I'm tired of depressing stories.
ReplyDeleteThe pornography of despair is a really great phrase, I agree. I think it summarizes a whole trend in apocalyptic writing, going back a long ways, which has never felt right to me.
ReplyDeleteThen again, I don't believe in apocalypse. I believe in apocatastasis.
Wow, apocatastasis. Just pronouncing the word makes you realize you're going too far out. Looking it up, led me to this poem:
ReplyDeleteBy James Stephens (1882-1950)
The Fullness of Time
On a rusty iron throne
Past the furthest star of space
I saw Satan sit alone,
Old and haggard was his face;
For his work was done and he
Rested in eternity.
And to him from out the sun
Came his father and his friend
Saying, now the work is done
Enmity is at an end:
And he guided Satan to
Paradises that he knew.
Gabriel without a frown,
Uriel without a spear,
Raphael came singing down
Welcoming their ancient peer,
And they seated him beside
One who had been crucified.
.
No wonder we're so simpatico, Art. So do I - though I know I'm not supposed to. Have you read Berdyaev by any chance?
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for that poem, Rus. Have you ever read Stephens's The Crock of Gold?
That phrase also stood out to me in a way that really rings true. I think you've coined a new term. I'm going to start using whenever I talk about this kind of fiction.
ReplyDeleteHi Frank,
ReplyDeleteI found it here: Project Gutenberg: The Crock of Gold, by James Stephens. I just read the first paragraph. It looks intriguing, and I wonder how I passed that up with all the reading I did in my twenties and thirties.
Yours,
Rus
Merton's essays in "Disputed Questions" that referred to Berdyaev led to read him, too, although I wouldn't say I feel that I have thoroughly read Berdyaev. I know that some Russian/Eastern Orthodox writers dispute Merton's interpretation, too, although I think that's because they're stuck, not because Merton was wrong in his interpretation. I like what I've read of Berdyaev, indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks too for posting the Muir poem, which is one of his many quiet mind-bomb masterpieces. I am also a fan of his student and fellow Orkneyman, George Mackay Brown.
Apocalyptic Liturature in Jewish (Book of Daniel) and Christian (Book of Revelation) are, in fact, anything but despair. Yes, the images are frightening - and occasionally downright terrifying - but the message of essnce is HOPE. ... a time is coming when all that seeks to destroy will be destroyed and hope, abundant life will reign. In essence the Easter message: transforming Resurrection.
ReplyDelete