On Tue, 27 Nov 2001, david.bircumshaw wrote...
>But too
>there is an element, a strong element, of something like autism, of being
>willy-nilly unable to grasp what others take for granted, of being thrown
>back on one's own resources because you can't understand the jabber of easy
>understanding, its smoothtalk comprehension and comfortable categorisation.
Well, that was one of the possible interpretations I pondered, but I
rejected it on the grounds that it's an *ability* to be able to refuse
to grasp what others take for granted, rather than an inability.
And autism isn't the same thing as stupidity, though it may appear so
from some perspectives.
I'm glad Candice doesn't think I'm stupid. Sometimes I am, though.
I'm afraid Alison's posting of the interview extract has made me agree
that Heiner isn't stupid. He has that brittle, self-regarding cleverness
that's only tolerable in Oscar Wilde. I have already struck him off my
dinner-party invitation list.
I liked the Pasternak quote though.
Best,
--
Peter
http://www.hphoward.demon.co.uk/poetry/
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