tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post6742634787215611308..comments2024-03-27T17:34:52.560-05:00Comments on A Garden Carried in the Pocket: Voltaire Almightyjenclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-55761562287797981322007-01-17T20:25:00.000-06:002007-01-17T20:25:00.000-06:00I'm so glad to read this. Voltaire's "Candide" is...I'm so glad to read this. Voltaire's "Candide" is on my Classics list and it's good to have some background information on the author. I know so little about him.Framedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13703547279309902320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-28664024996237184612007-01-15T13:08:00.000-06:002007-01-15T13:08:00.000-06:00Sounds pretty interesting.Sounds pretty interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-35143854238997456622007-01-13T10:34:00.000-06:002007-01-13T10:34:00.000-06:00Carl - I realized quickly that I couldn't cover al...Carl - I realized quickly that I couldn't cover all of the things I wanted to mention, but still wrote on, trying to summarize. It was an excellent book with which to begin the New Year.<br /><br />Dorothy - After getting past the first few chapters, I could scarcely bare to part with it. He was so very human, so flawed, so full of good intentions, so eager for a fight.<br /><br />Heather - I really want to plow through the books I have waiting before getting another...but Candide is whispering, "Order me! You need a copy. NOW!" I'm resisting for the moment. Looking forward to your comments when you read it.jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-69478018754764877842007-01-13T10:23:00.000-06:002007-01-13T10:23:00.000-06:00Wonderful writing as usual. I'm starting Candide s...Wonderful writing as usual. I'm starting Candide soon and it will be interesting to keep in mind a few things that you've mentioned as I read it.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13979896448183348883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-30081504197473420872007-01-13T07:20:00.000-06:002007-01-13T07:20:00.000-06:00Very interesting! Thanks for the information on V...Very interesting! Thanks for the information on Voltaire's life -- this is an excellent summary.Rebecca H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10825532162727473112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-24885535447899053302007-01-13T02:05:00.000-06:002007-01-13T02:05:00.000-06:00It sounds very fascinating and you did a tremendou...It sounds very fascinating and you did a tremendous overview in such a brief space for such a big book! <br /><br />Love Les Miserables, probably my favorite Broadway musical.Carl V. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15948764216438379394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-53582959342927845592007-01-13T00:28:00.000-06:002007-01-13T00:28:00.000-06:00Yes - surprisingly so! In the past, at least as f...Yes - surprisingly so! In the past, at least as far as <br />literature, I've taken off down predictable roads. Chaucer and Shakespeare being two of my very favorites. There is truly no end of information/opinion there. The "French Connection" is, however, entirely new, and I'm determined to follow further. Let me see, beyond Dumas and Flaubert, my knowlege is extremely limited. Names are familiar, but not the actual works. <br /><br />And, of course, from the musical: <br /><I>Master of the house<br />Doling out the charm<br />Ready with a handshake<br />And an open palm<br />Tells a saucy tale<br />Makes a little stir<br />Customers appreciate a bon-viveur<br />Glad to do a friend a favor<br />Doesn't cost me to be nice<br />But nothing gets you nothing<br />Everything has got a little price!<br /><br />Master of the house<br />Keeper of the zoo<br />Ready to relieve 'em<br />Of a sou or two<br />Watering the wine<br />Making up the weight<br />Pickin' up their knick-knacks<br />When they can't see straight<br />Everybody loves a landlord<br />Everybody's bosom friend<br />I do whatever pleases<br />Jesus! Won't I bleed 'em in the end!<br /><br />THENARDIER & CHORUS<br />Master of the house<br />Quick to catch yer eye<br />Never wants a passerby<br />To pass him by<br />Servant to the poor<br />Butler to the great<br />Comforter, philosopher,<br />And lifelong mate!<br />Everybody's boon companion<br />Everybody's chaperone...<br /><br />...<br /><br />MME. THENARDIER<br />I used to dream<br />That I would meet a prince<br />But God Almighty,<br />Have you seen what's happened since?<br />`Master of the house?'<br />Isn't worth me spit!<br />`Comforter, philosopher'<br />- and lifelong shit!<br />Cunning little brain<br />Regular Voltaire<br />Thinks he's quite a lover<br />But there's not much there<br />What a cruel trick of nature<br />Landed me with such a louse<br />God knows how I've lasted<br />Living with this bastard in the house!</I>jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-20757549587453563982007-01-12T23:55:00.000-06:002007-01-12T23:55:00.000-06:00Don't you just love books that end up sending you ...Don't you just love books that end up sending you down the roads of research? I did some looking tonight too and found the Oration on Voltaire mentioned. Looks like something I'll be reading more about this weekend.SuziQoregonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15552565982732943323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-83484878945875094182007-01-12T23:48:00.000-06:002007-01-12T23:48:00.000-06:00Suzi - I've never read Les Miserables in its entir...Suzi - I've never read Les Miserables in its entirety; there was a copy at my grandmother's house that I started more than once, but it was beyond me at the time. <br /><br />Your comment about Hugo's references intrigued me. Pearson by no means omits Voltaire's failings (although, overall the admiration is evident). So I was interested in Hugo's opinion and found <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC29286035&id=YWN4B6Mct5wC&pg=PR9&lpg=PR9&dq=victor+hugo+and+voltaire#PPR1,M1"> this, Victor Hugo's Oration on Voltaire </a> which relates Voltaire's involvement in redressing the executions first of Jean Calas and then of the young chevalier de La Barre. Both of these cases, Pearson reviews in detail. <br /><br />Dang, I never expected to become so involved with either Voltaire or the French Englightenment. And by the way, Voltaire eventually engaged in verbal warfare with Rousseau! He was definitely a flawed individual...but, as I mentioned, fascinating!<br /><br />I really believe I've discovered a series of topics that bear further research. My interests (and love) has always been in the area of English literature, but now I'm venturing into a truly new area (for me). What fun!jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-89548299276881028902007-01-12T21:11:00.000-06:002007-01-12T21:11:00.000-06:00Jen: Glad to hear it was good. I'm nearing the ha...Jen: Glad to hear it was good. I'm nearing the halfway point in Les Miserables and Hugo mentions Voltaire quite often and not in complimentary ways, either. I need to do a bit of research this weekend and see what's up with that.SuziQoregonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15552565982732943323noreply@blogger.com