*Moravagine* completely blew me away when I was introduced to it all
unsuspecting way back when, Alison. None of Cendrars' other books seem
to be quite as weird - though it doesn't fit in with Dominic's
definition of the category or genre. (But his last novel about the aging
monstre sacré de la scène, *Emmène-moi au bout du monde* from what I
have read of it, is grotesque - a category that includes Bosch [also
weird?] & Rabelais, like him carnevalesque as well). Personally I don't
believe in the stability of all these categories enough to argue about
what belongs where. Moravagine could be seen as the literary precursor
of Hannibal Lector; there are probably many more (Richard III comes to
mind) - perhaps the Newgate Calendar fits in there too, narratives or
case-histories of mind-blowingly excessive criminals. 18th C Gothic was
weird in a way, as it re-introduced unsuspected monstrosities like
demons etc to an age of reason as the frisson that relieves the flatness
of all-too rational life.
mj
Alison Croggon wrote:
> I like China Mieville a lot. He's called "new weird' or steampunk. I
> probably like his short stories Looking for Jake best of all - haven't
> got
> to his new YA novel yet.
>
> Blaise Cendrars' Moravagine would be on my list. Maybe you could stick
> Bataille in as a weird critic.
>
> Best
>
> A
>
> On 4/28/07, MJ Walker <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>>
>> Does anyone resonate with the term "weird fiction"? I rather like it.
>> See China Mieville's list here -
>> http://books.guardian.co.uk/top10s/top10/0,,716474,00.html
>> A list with C. Bronte, Carroll, Wells, P.K.Dick and Max Ernst seems very
>> right to me.
>> I bought that Perdido St. novel some time ago but haven't got into it
>> yet.
>> mj
>>
>> --
>> Il ne faut pas toujours conter,
>> Citer,
>> Dater,
>> Mais écouter.
>> Il faut éviter l'emploi
>> Du moi, du moi,
>> Voici pourquoi:
>>
>> Il est tyrannique,
>> Trop académique;
>> L'ennui, l'ennui
>> Marche avec lui.
>>
>> Marie-Françoise-Catherine de Beauveau, Marquise de Boufflets
>>
>
>
>
--
Il ne faut pas toujours conter,
Citer,
Dater,
Mais écouter.
Il faut éviter l'emploi
Du moi, du moi,
Voici pourquoi:
Il est tyrannique,
Trop académique;
L'ennui, l'ennui
Marche avec lui.
Marie-Françoise-Catherine de Beauveau, Marquise de Boufflets
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