Back Cover: "Gordon Pym is both a novel and turn initiation, transgression and revelation, which has the classical form of the" trip " . The trip is in a spatial form the passage of time, but also the initiation of the adolescent who becomes a man then disappeared into a secret of the Ultima Thule. So first a sort of "bildungroman" whose first chapter, which is eighteen months before the real journey, this child Pym, in his first transgression. At the most simple, Gordon Pym belongs to the tradition of the Bildungsroman. Classic novel of initiation, it first disobedience, and a lie (the false letter of invitation), and finally a fugue. Fugue, the revolt against the family is essential here breaking the original transgression which will in turn result in initiation and revelation. "Jacques Cabau.
Book of the month - double reading: Emmanuel & JB
the Mountains of Madness, HP Lovecraft, if we were left a mixed impression though generally friendly, were able, simultaneously and without any prior consultation, to draw our attention to a work which is quoted several times: the Adventures of Arthur Gordon Pym EA Poe. References to this work in one of Lovecraft are indeed full of mystery, a mystery that has become untenable for us when we learned that these adventures were the only published novel by the author (he has also written as news) and besides Lovecraft, another (at least) famous novelist admired this novel ... JL Borges. Our book of the month of January was found ...
The notice of Emmanuel
As stated in the preamble, is reading the Mountains of Madness Lovecraft who drew my attention to this novel, I would undoubtedly never read without it. Being a big Borges, a great lover of Stevenson and Jules Verne-time player who does not spit on a little tidbit Lovecraftian the way, it would have been really bad. For this modest novel (we must admit that writing as much of the plot are nothing crazy) is yet to be counted among the great as it feels in the dawn germ fantastic works and subsequent novelists. As
the back cover does not really enlighten you, a quick summary is required. Arthur Gordon Pym is an intrepid young gentleman native of Nantucket (an island off the U.S. east coast, home to the Whale Moby Dick ) who embarks on a ship secretly controlled by the father of one friends and at the same time for perilous adventures that lead him to the South Pole, by passing by a riot, a storm at sea, several episodes of famine and half a dozen occasions to die. Until late as dazzling as it was unexpected (no spoiler sorry), concentrated on just a few pages alone are worth reading the previous 200.
If the language of Poe, objectively quite simple, is very well served by the translation of Baudelaire, a rigorous, many didactic passages, that concern the ideal way to secure the loading of a ship, geographical coordinates of the ship recalled on each page of the trip or the ornithological wonders of this or that island are the lengths that we would have ben past (however they are very well accepted in this type of novel, mostly written in 1838).
If I was dazzled by AGP, but rather because it collects and foreshadows the themes and narrative elements that will become dear to many subsequent novelists I particularly like:
- I can not help seeing in these stories of fiery young boy in search of adventure, navigators of the southern seas and mutiny a prelude to the invincible archetype of what adventure novel Treasure Island that Stevenson wrote 40 years later (and Moby Dick Melville I know little).
- The tribute to this book by the Mountains of Madness is now almost transparent and is echoed in my mind my comment about the appearance of the text dated from Lovecraft. Because the relationship extends to the objective of the journey into the mysteries sheltered by it, but also relates to style (very scientific) and language.
- The only way to bring Poe, insidiously but vigorously a fantastic story in a very dark far clearly rooted in the reality of daily life (even special) is very similar to the one used 120 years later our dear Borges in several news I have read (The report Brodie and The Gospel according to Mark to name two, taken from Report Brodie read recently).
- I almost said that the rapprochement between AGP and the work of Jules Verne seemed tempting but more uncertain, when a quick check on Wikipedia tells me that he had written in 1897 nothing less than the following Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym called The Sphinx of Ice . Imagine the impact of this on reading the rest of his work.
As stated in the preamble, is reading the Mountains of Madness Lovecraft who drew my attention to this novel, I would undoubtedly never read without it. Being a big Borges, a great lover of Stevenson and Jules Verne-time player who does not spit on a little tidbit Lovecraftian the way, it would have been really bad. For this modest novel (we must admit that writing as much of the plot are nothing crazy) is yet to be counted among the great as it feels in the dawn germ fantastic works and subsequent novelists. As
the back cover does not really enlighten you, a quick summary is required. Arthur Gordon Pym is an intrepid young gentleman native of Nantucket (an island off the U.S. east coast, home to the Whale Moby Dick ) who embarks on a ship secretly controlled by the father of one friends and at the same time for perilous adventures that lead him to the South Pole, by passing by a riot, a storm at sea, several episodes of famine and half a dozen occasions to die. Until late as dazzling as it was unexpected (no spoiler sorry), concentrated on just a few pages alone are worth reading the previous 200.
If the language of Poe, objectively quite simple, is very well served by the translation of Baudelaire, a rigorous, many didactic passages, that concern the ideal way to secure the loading of a ship, geographical coordinates of the ship recalled on each page of the trip or the ornithological wonders of this or that island are the lengths that we would have ben past (however they are very well accepted in this type of novel, mostly written in 1838).
If I was dazzled by AGP, but rather because it collects and foreshadows the themes and narrative elements that will become dear to many subsequent novelists I particularly like:
- I can not help seeing in these stories of fiery young boy in search of adventure, navigators of the southern seas and mutiny a prelude to the invincible archetype of what adventure novel Treasure Island that Stevenson wrote 40 years later (and Moby Dick Melville I know little).
- The tribute to this book by the Mountains of Madness is now almost transparent and is echoed in my mind my comment about the appearance of the text dated from Lovecraft. Because the relationship extends to the objective of the journey into the mysteries sheltered by it, but also relates to style (very scientific) and language.
- The only way to bring Poe, insidiously but vigorously a fantastic story in a very dark far clearly rooted in the reality of daily life (even special) is very similar to the one used 120 years later our dear Borges in several news I have read (The report Brodie and The Gospel according to Mark to name two, taken from Report Brodie read recently).
- I almost said that the rapprochement between AGP and the work of Jules Verne seemed tempting but more uncertain, when a quick check on Wikipedia tells me that he had written in 1897 nothing less than the following Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym called The Sphinx of Ice . Imagine the impact of this on reading the rest of his work.
To read or not?
A Resounding yes, for two reasons. For grades literary work first, with a few laps in no trump some great moments like the episode of the short-straw and what follows from or end of the novel. For its cultural dimension because then AGP seems now like a novel essential founder of a whole literature of adventure and fantasy literature that I really enjoy.
Notice JB:
When I think of Poe, it reminds me Extraordinary Stories (also translated by Baudelaire) with The purloined letter, read a few years ago already with a lot of fun.
its release in Britain and the United States in 1838, AGP has fallen sharply by critics who described it as a poor adventure novel, full of inconsistencies and extremist violence in the subjects. Poe eventually lose interest in this work, Baudelaire (who lives at that time many of his translations) will not always reach him either with this book.
Without sharing the interest of Emmanuel to Verne or Stevenson, unlike Borges and Lovecraft (to a lesser extent) are consensus, so ... ...
The verdict frame was perfectly summarized I will not repeat it.
AGP is foremost in my mind, an adventure novel, initiation rites. The young boy of good family who transgresses parental prohibitions, the call of the sea, the discovery of stress and deprivation, trade with someone of a different color (seen in the context of the time), the discovery and excitement of the unknown ... universal subject, very often taken (I will not go for this time in the controversy "which is the first and so what?") but that requires a real talent to be addressed fairly.
Poe and Lovecraft have in common is fond This simple narrative and often close to a diary (you can joke aside, Stoker classified in this category), dated, classified and structured. This choice is, indeed, many the transition real / fantasy, by readers gently into a mood, a signature which wants closer to what the characters live. In terms of "fear" or "horror" themes beloved authors of these 2, they want slow, insidious, understood, unlike the movie-goer who jumps in his seat. It is an approach and style that I appreciate when they are mastered. I spend
voluntarily on the redundant references to navigation, such as Emmanuel they bored me more than anything else.
AGP is foremost in my mind, an adventure novel, initiation rites. The young boy of good family who transgresses parental prohibitions, the call of the sea, the discovery of stress and deprivation, trade with someone of a different color (seen in the context of the time), the discovery and excitement of the unknown ... universal subject, very often taken (I will not go for this time in the controversy "which is the first and so what?") but that requires a real talent to be addressed fairly.
Poe and Lovecraft have in common is fond This simple narrative and often close to a diary (you can joke aside, Stoker classified in this category), dated, classified and structured. This choice is, indeed, many the transition real / fantasy, by readers gently into a mood, a signature which wants closer to what the characters live. In terms of "fear" or "horror" themes beloved authors of these 2, they want slow, insidious, understood, unlike the movie-goer who jumps in his seat. It is an approach and style that I appreciate when they are mastered. I spend
voluntarily on the redundant references to navigation, such as Emmanuel they bored me more than anything else.
To read or not?
Without a doubt, a very good book, one of the best in its genre in my opinion. Here and there on the net, rather uncomplimentary comments from people who obviously much time to lose, who "dissect" the book and its inaccuracies (where is Tiger?) On dozens of lines, and I imagine echo critics of the 19th. Make this analysis, say. Conclude that these inaccuracies make it a sloppy book, no. I am often on the SF example, where it has never bothered me that ships propel themselves by a means unknown if it is integrated into the story and it's consistent. AGP is a success story that is well worth a visit ...
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