Howards End

Author        : E.M. Forster

Genre         : Novel

Published   : 1910

Country      : United Kingdom

Challenge   : LMRC - Novemeber (Beat Generation or Bloomsbury Group)

 

The Beat Generation was a group of authors whose literature explored and influenced American culture in the post-World War II era. The bulk of their work was published and popularized throughout the 1950s. Central elements of Beat culture are rejection of standard narrative values, the spiritual quest, exploration of American and Eastern religions, rejection of materialism, explicit portrayals of the human condition, experimentation with psychedelic drugs, and sexual liberation and exploration. (Source - Wikepedia)

 

The Bloomsbury Group was an influential group of associated English writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists. Much of the literature produced by Bloomsbury Group was revolutionary. They formed a bridge between the Victorians and the Moderns.

 

Howards End

 

The story revolves around three families from different socioeconomic strata. Schlegels are cultured, intellectual upper class who lives on an inherited income. The wilcoxes are practical, business minded who made wealth in colonies. Basts are the lower level working class.

The Wilcoxes invite Schlegels to Howards End, their country house at Hilton  after their acquaintance in one of their European trip. Helen visits Howards End but Margaret could not accompany her as their brother is sick. Helen describes Howards End to Margaret in her letters. The novel in fact begins with a series of letter from Helen to Margaret.  Helen falls in love with the younger son of Wilcox, but it ends in a span of twenty-four hours. The Schlegels and Wilcox part wishing not to meet in the future. Few years later the Wilcoxes move to Schlegels neighborhood.  Friendship blooms between Mrs. Wilcox and Margaret. Mrs. Wilcox dies, leaving a note wishing that Howards End be given to Margaret. Wilcoxes  burns the note in fire. Soon Mr. Wilcox takes a liking to Margaret. One day, he proposes to her, awkwardly though.  Margaret to her surprise was happy and accepts his proposal. When Helen is against her marrying Mr. Wilcox, Margaret tells her, 

"If Wilcoxes hadn’t worked and died in England for thousands of years, you and I couldn’t sit here without having our throats cut. There would be no trains, no ships to carry us literary people about in, no fields even. Just savagery. No- perhaps not even that. Without their spirit life might never moved out of protoplasm. More and more do I refuse to draw my income and sneer at those who guarantee it."

Margaret knew all the faults of Mr. Wilcox. She knows that he is a practical man with no emotions. But she understands and hopes that she could change him.

"Only connect! that was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion and both will be exalted and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer."

 After twists and turns, the novel ends with Mr. Wilcox, Margaret, Helen and her illegitimate child living at Howards End. Helen is finally able to see the goodness in Mr. Wilcox as her sister.  Mr. Wilcox also leaves his rigid attitude and become an understanding man.

By weaving the lives of three families, Forster portrays the social divisions, gender divisions and materialism in the Burgeoning England at the turn of the 20th century. Howards End symbolically represents England. The burgeoning England should not lose its culture to materialism. Like his protagonist Margaret, Forster wants to only connect the both. He envisions an England where people can connect and live harmoniously.

The novel is filled with philosophical ideas; nevertheless it is an engaging read. Forsters writing is rich and eloquent. I would definitely like to read it again in future.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Author                  : Washington Irving
Country                : United States
Genre                   : Short story, Speculative fiction
Published in         : The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent
Publication Date  : 1820

Challenge             : LMRC - April - Romanticism

Romanticism:

A movement in art and literature in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in revolt against the Neoclassicism of the previous centuries. The German poet Friedrich Schlegel, who is given credit for first using the term romantic to describe literature, defined it as "literature depicting emotional matter in an imaginative form." This is as accurate a general definition as can be accomplished, although Victor Hugo's phrase "liberalism in literature" is also apt. Imagination, emotion, and freedom are certainly the focal points of romanticism. Any list of particular characteristics of the literature of romanticism includes subjectivity and an emphasis on individualism; spontaneity; freedom from rules; solitary life rather than life in society; the beliefs that imagination is superior to reason and devotion to beauty; love of and worship of nature; and fascination with the past, especially the myths and mysticism of the middle ages.

"Not far from this village, perhaps about two miles, there is a little valley or rather lap of land among high hills, which is one of the quietest places in the whole world. A small brook glides through it, with just murmur enough to lull one to repose; and the occasional whistle of a quail or tapping of a woodpecker is almost the only sound that ever breaks in upon the uniform tranquility".

The legend of sleepy hollow tells the story of Ichabod Crane. He comes to the town named Sleepy Hollow from Connecticut as a school teacher. He is lean, lanky and superstitious. Katrina Van Tassel, a beautiful young woman is his student. His heart beats for her, but he actually wants to win her heart the moment he see the rich farm of her father. He has a competitor though, the village hero Brom Bones. Brones had already scared many of Katrina's suitors. But, Ichabod avoids physical confrontation with Brom Bones, so he plays many pranks on Crane and humiliates him. One fine day, Ichabod is invited to a party at Van Tassels. He stays after the party, but then he leaves heart broken. It was dark and quiet. Ichabod tries to be brave. When he sees a dark figure without a head on a horse, the ghost stories about headless horseman comes to his mind. He quickens to cross the bridge. After crossing the bridge he turns to see the headless horseman vanish according to the rules. But the headless horseman hurls the head at him. The next day he has disappeared. Some believes that it is one of the pranks of Brom Bones. Others believe that Ichabod was taken by the headless horseman.
Rich imagery makes the book a pleasant read.

 

 

The hiatus coming to an end !!!

I have been away from online activity for quite a long time. Reasons are many and I am not going to bother anyone with that. I read the "Legend of Sleeping Hollow" for LMRC's April Romanticism. I also read 'A room with a view' by E.M. Forster and 'The fault in our stars by John Green during my hiatus. I really missed the LMRC. I look forward to complete the November and December LMRC.

Joseph Andrews

Original Title       : The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and His friend
                                Mr. Abraham Adams
Author                 :  Henry Fielding
Country               :  Britain
Publication Date :  1742

I read Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding for LMRC - Enlightenment period. Again I am late, posting this. Anyway, I did enjoy reading Joseph Andrews. Enlightenment period also referred to as the 'Age of Reason' runs from around 1660 until the beginning of the 19th century. It saw the development of modern novel as literary genre. Themes of social upheaval, reversals of personal status, political satire, the comparison between the supposed natural state of man and the supposed civilized state of man were explored in the literature.

The History of Joseph Andrews is defined by Fielding as a 'Comic epic poem in prose.' He began writing it as a parody to Samuel Richardson's Pamela, but it grew beyond it and became his first published novel. He also tells that he wrote it in the style of Cervantes. As the title goes it tells the story of Joseph Andrews, the only son of Gaffer and Gammer Andrews and brother of the virtuous Pamela. Joseph is apprenticed to Sir Thomas Booby at ten years of age. He becomes a footman of Lady Booby at the age of 21. When the Booby's depart to London, he too departs with them. Thomas Booby dies after a year. Lady Booby tries to seduce Joseph. He is too innocent to understand at first, but he follows the path of his sister.  The infuriated Lady Booby dismisses Joseph. He immediately sets off to the Booby's country Parish to marry his love, Fanny Goodwill. On the very first day he was robbed and stripped naked. He was rescued by a coach driver and taken to an inn owned by Mr&Mrs. Towwouse. He meets his friend Adams, who is on his way to London to publish his sermons. Abraham finds that he has left his sermons at home. So both Adams and Joseph set out to Parish. The rest of the story is all the adventures they come across on the road to home, and also more surprising adventures at home before the lovers are united.
Fielding gives a vivid portrayal of the 18th century English society and also depicts the human nature with all its vices and folly.


 

The Alchemist - Ben Jonson

I read The Alchemist by Ben Jonson for Fanda's LMRC, Renaissance Period.

Renaissance

Renaissance literally means rebirth. The world was emerging from the Middle or Dark Ages. The movement actually began in Italy and spread to England. English Renaissance occurred from 1500-1660. One key characteristic of the Renaissance was the idea of the 'Divine Right of Kings' to rule. Another was the development of humanistic ideas, such as the dignity of man. It was a time of scientific inquiry and exploration. The overwhelming spirit of the time was optimism, an unquenchable belief that life was improving for the first time. England graduated from an overlooked barbarian nation to a seat of commercial power and influence. The dominant forms of English Literature during this period were the poem and the drama.

The Renaissance or Early Modern Period is grouped into four periods:

Elizabethan Age (1558-1603)

 It was the golden age of English drama. Noted authors during this period are Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon, Edmund Spencer, Sir Walter Raleigh, and William Shakespeare.

The Jacobean Age (1603-1625)

 It covers the reign of James I. Noted authors during this period are John Donne, William Shakespeare, Michael Drayton, John Webster, Elizabeth Cary, Ben Jonson and Lady Mary Wroth. The King James Translation of the Bible also appeared during this period.

The Caroline Age (1625-1649)

This covers the reign of Charles I. Noted authors are John Milton, Robert Burton, and George Herbert.

The Commonwealth Period (1649-1660)

This is the period between the end of the English Civil War and the restoration of the Stuart Monarchy. This is the time when Oliver Cromwell, a puritan led parliament ruled the nation. At this time, public theaters were closed to prevent public assembly and to combat moral and religious transgressions. Noted authors are John Milton, John Bunyan, Thomas Hobbes, Thomas Fuller, Abraham Cowley and Andrew Marvell.

The Alchemist by Ben Jonson

 

 

It is a satirical comedy play. The play is set in London, 1610. It is divided into five acts and all the acts occur at the house of Lovewit. Lovewit flees to the country because of an outbreak of Plague in London and leaves his house under the care of his butler, Jeremy. Jeremy utilises this opportunity to mint some money. He disguises as Face and join hands with a conman named Subtle, who pretends as an alchemist and Dolcommon, a prostitute. They use the house for their fraudulent activities.

The play begins with an argument between Subtle and Face over their supremacy in their fraud business. Dol intervenes and the men reconcile. By this time, their first gull, Dapper, who is a lawyer’s clerk, arrives. Face takes the role of captain Face, Subtle play as the Doctor and Face receives Dapper. Throughout the play the three rogues take different roles as they meet their gulls. Their gulls are from all social strata. Before they finish dealing with a gull, the next gull arrives. At onetime all their gulls arrive at the same time and when they sigh a relief after managing somehow, Doll announces Lovewit’s arrival.

 Face immediately becomes butler Jeremy and meets Lovewit at the door. Lovewit is mobbed by his neighbors and they tell him that his house had many visitors in his absence. Lovewit suspects something amiss when Sir Epicure Mammon (one of their gull) come back to expose Subtle and Face.  Finally Jeremy confesses and asks his master for forgiveness and promises to help him marry a rich widow.  Lovewit forgives Jeremy. Subtle and Dol Common are forced to escape without anything. Lovewit marries the widow.

It’s an interesting play. Ben Jonson satirises the Jacobean London. Alchemists and astrologers were common then and doing a lucrative business. How the selfishness and greediness of the people for wealth, power make them a prey to these conmen is beautifully portrayed in The Alchemist. Though Jonson was portraying Jacobean London, it still holds true today. The human weaknesses are exploited even today by many conmen.

 

The Classics Club - February Meme

It’s the second time I am trying to answer the Classics Club Meme. This months meme goes like this-

               

“What about Modern Classics? Pick a book published since 2000 and say why you think it will be considered as a classic in the future?”

A very interesting meme indeed! Classics have ordinarily stood the test of time. Classics have universal appeal. I recently read and enjoyed ‘ Life of pi’  by Yan Martel. It was published in 2001. I think Life of Pi definitely transcends time. It tells the story of Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi), the son of a zoo-keeper, who grows embracing all religions. When Pi was sixteen, his dad plans to settle in Canada and they board a Japanese freighter. In a shipwreck,  Pi is left adrift on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean in the company of zebra, orangutan, hyena and a Bengal tiger. In the fight for survival zebra, orangutan and hyena dies. Pi shares the lifeboat with the Bengal tiger named Richard Parker for nearly seven months. His adventurous survival  is portrayed beautifully by Martel. His courage, intelligence, hope, belief and above all his faith in God  helps him survive the difficult times. Yan Martel’s writing is beautiful and elegant. A compelling story with universally appealing theme, in my opinion makes Life of Pi a modern classic.

 

 

    

 

Le Morte D'Arthur - Thomas Malory

 

 

 

I read Le Morte D’Arthur for LMRC, Medieval period. I am glad that I managed to read Le Morte D’Arthur, a dense and heavy book. If not for LMRC, I confess I wouldn’t have read it in a months' time. Thankyou Fanda!

Medieval Literature

Medieval literature spans over a 1000 years, beginning with the fall of Roman Empire (450 CE) and ending with the invention of printing press in the 15^th century. Much of the first half of this period, prior to the 7^th century was oral literature. Most of the writings were religious in nature. Caedmon’s Hymn is the earliest recorded poem in old English. Beowulf, the works of Cynewulf and the works of period poets are some important works of Old English Literature (450-1066). As with the Old English period, much of the Middle English writings were religious in nature. However secular literature begin to rise from the 14^th century. There came a huge transition in the language, culture and lifestyle of England in the Middle English Period (1066-1500). Some of the notable works of this period are the Pearl Poet’s Pearl, patience, cleanness and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Langland’s political and religious allegory Piers Plowman, John Gower’s Confessio Amantis, Thomas Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur and the works of Geoffrey Chaucer. Geoffrey Chaucer is the most highly regarded English poet of the Middle Ages. He was seen by his contemporaries as an English successor to the great tradition of Virgil and Dante.

 

Le Morte D’Arthur

Thomas Malory wrote it while he was in prison between 1468 and 1470, but it was printed in 1485 by William Caxton. The stories about King Arthur were there for a long time. Malory collected them all and retold them with an epic unity, creating the Romantic Age of Chivalry. Le Morte D’Arthur is the first true novel written in English. Malory originally wrote Le Morte D’Arthur as eight books or tales. William Caxton divided it into 21 books and then printed it.

It centers on King Arthur and the knights of his round table. It tells the story of the birth of King Arthur to Igraine and Uther Pendragon by the sorcery of Merlin and how Arthur was brought up by Sir Ector, how Arthur was made the King of Britain after the death of Uther Pendragon by Merlin, Arthur’s wedding with Guenever and how he got roundtable as his wedding gift, how knights of the roundtable were ordained and their sieges blessed by the Bishop of Canterbury and numerous other adventures by the round table knights including the quest of the Sangreal, lovetale of Lancelot and Queen Guinevere and Tristan and Isolde and finally the death of King Arthur. It took a long time for me to read volume I and I thought it wouldn't be possible for me to complete it, but Volume II moved at a faster pace. I enjoyed reading all the tales of King Arthur and his knights' chivalry, peppered with mythology, medieval romance and the knights' numerous adventures including their quest of the Sangreal.

King Arthur Weds Guinevere

Tristan and Isolde

Sir Launcelot in pursuit of  Sir Melliagrance

Death of King Arthur

 

The Moonstone - Wilkie Collins

Book:      The Moonstone

Author:    Wilkie Collins

Country:   UK

Language: English

Genre:       Epistolary Novel, Mystery Novel

Publisher: Tinsley Brothers

Publication Date: 1868

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins was originally serialized in Charles Dickens magazine “All the Year Round”. T.S. Eliot called it “The first, the longest and the best of modern English detective novel in a genre invented by Collins and not by Poe.” (Source – Wikipedia)

I was first intimidated by the length of the novel. But it soon turned out to be an engaging read and the lengthiness did not intimidate me any longer. The story revolves around the Moonstone. In the prologue, Collins tells about the Moonstone. The moonstone, a yellow diamond decorated the idol of Moon God in a temple at Somnath, in the 11^th century AD. By the raids of Mohammadeans and later by the British, the moonstone finally gets into the hands of John Herncastle, a British soldier in India. In the aftermath of the storming of Seringapatam, John Herncastle kills three Indian soldiers guarding the moonstone and steals it. When Herncastle leaves to England, he takes the moonstone with him. It is said that the Moonstone was guarded by three Brahmins for many centuries and that a curse would befall on anyone who steals it. John Herncastle is shunned by his family members (may be the curse of the Moonstone) and lives a lonely life. On his deathbed, he leaves a will, which tells that the moonstone should be given as a birthday present to his nephew, Rachel Verinder on her 18^th birthday. Franklin Blake, a cousin of Rachel Verinder is the one to deliver the moonstone. Franklin who had heard about the story of moonstone suspects whether his uncle Herncastle had prepared such a will in order to take revenge on his sister and her family. His suspicion increases when he finds Indians following him to England. Nevertheless he delivers the Moonstone to Rachel Verinder on her birthday. Rachel wears the moonstone on her birthday party. Next day the moonstone is found missing. The local police and England’s best detective Sergeant Cuff are called in to investigate.

The story is actually narrated by many different characters who were present at the time, the moonstone went missing. This is interesting as it gives some depth to the characters. My favorite narrator is Gabriel Betteredge, the loyal Steward of Verinder family, whose Bible is Robinson Crusoe.  Each narrative aids in unravelling the mystery. There are many twists and turns before the thief and the moonstone is finally unveiled.

Having enjoyed the moonstone, I look forward to read ‘The woman in white’, which is considered to be the Collins best novel.