There is a whole genre of post-modern cultural critique, if not
literature, dealing with "boundaries" including a major conference and
journal issue, being held I believe in Texas...
Sorry, I don't have the exact reference... but ask anyone in your "English
or Literature Department" about it...
Mike Gurstein
On Fri, 15 Jan 1999, Brendan Whyte wrote:
>Colleagues,
> While reviewing the literature on the Indian-Bangladesh boundary, I have
>come across the first piece of REAL literature dealing with
>lines-in-the-sand, by W.H. Auden. Geographical poetry being such a rare
>beastie, I couldn't but share it with you. I found it in "City Without
>Walls and other poems", Faber and Faber, London, 1969
>
>"Partition" by W. H. Auden (written 1967)
>
>Unbiased at least he was when he arrived on his mission,
>Having never set eyes on this land he was called to partition
>Between two peoples fanatically at odds,
>With their different diets and incompatible gods.
>"Time", they had briefed him in London, "is short. It's too late
>For mutual reconciliation or rational debate:
>The only solution now lies in separation.
>The Viceroy thinks, as you will see from his letter,
>That the less you are seen in his company the better,
>So we've arranged to provide you with other accomodation.
>We can give you four judges, two Moslem and two Hindu,
>To consult with, but the final decision must rest with you."
>
>Shut up in a lonely mansion, with police night and day
>Patrolling the gardens to keep assassins away,
>He got down to work, to the task of settling the fate
>Of millions. The maps at his disposal were out of date
>And the Census Returns almost certainly incorrect,
>But there was no time to check them, no time to inspect
>Contested areas. The weather was frightfully hot,
>And a bout of dysentery kept him constantly on the trot,
>But in seven weeks it was done, the frontiers decided,
>A continent for better or worse divided.
>
>The next day he sailed for England, where he quickly forgot
>The case, as a good lawyer must. Return he would not,
>Afraid, as he told his Club, that he might get shot.
>
>
>
>Does anyone know any other 'literature' on boundaries?
>
>Brendan Whyte
>University of Melbourne
>
Michael Gurstein, Ph.D.
ECBC/NSERC/SSHRC Associate Chair in the Management of Technological Change
Director: Centre for Community and Enterprise Networking (C\CEN)
University College of Cape Breton, POBox 5300, Sydney, NS, CANADA B1P 6L2
Tel. 902-563-1369 (o) 902-562-1055 (h) 902-562-0119 (fax)
[log in to unmask] Http://ccen.uccb.ns.ca ICQ: 7388855
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