"Quiet" Writers

[Viva June]

I was just about to say that The Go-Between is an excellent example of, to reverse Sand's phrase, "quiet incident". Writing about the past from his vantage point in the present, the narrator is able to give a complete account of the events which occurred that summer as well as the motivations of the people involved, not least his own, leaving little room for any mystery regarding what did and did not happen. But then, after the narrative has caught up with the present, a whole new aspect (almost literally, in fact: "the south-west prospect of the Hall") is added to the story, casting everything in a different light. Basically, the entire mystery of the novel is created in that final, modest sentence. I dislike the use of cinematic metaphors in describing writing, but it is like when a camera turns or pulls back to reveal something, only the reader never gets to "see" what was outside the frame the whole time. Though maybe I just failed to pay attention.

Continuing in this vein, I think the mid-century literary scene in Britain had middle-aged men falling over themselves to prove who could write the most sensitive novel of country life. Henry Green might have won with Loving (I say with confidence, despite having read few of the other contenders).

As for contemporary horror, surely our own Quentin fits the bill better than almost anyone?

[gveranon]

Henry James

Anita Brookner

George Gissing, The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft

Gerald Murnane, Landscape with Landscape

Edgar Bowers, Collected Poems

David Markson, Wittgenstein's Mistress

Francois Jullien, In Praise of Blandness: Proceeding from Chinese Thought and Aesthetics

[Nemonymous]

Quote Originally Posted by gveranon

Anita Brookner

Indeed, she's long been a favourite writer of mine.

[Nemonymous]

Quote Originally Posted by Nemonymous

Quote Originally Posted by gveranon Anita Brookner Indeed, she's long been a favourite writer of mine.

I have done a review here of Anita Brookner's AT THE HAIRDESSER'S:
https://dflewisreviews.wordpress.com...nita-brookner/