Reading--O'Brian bios

[sartorias]

While alternately binging and then shying away from the news when the pain and frustration goes too high, I've been toting about the first volume of Nikolai Tolstoy's biography of Patrick O'Brian. I read some, then turn to the Dean King bio.

Comments

[ccfinlay]

I love O'Brian's books (and am looking forward to the reissue of The Catalans), but I haven't read either of the biographies. You're making me want to pick up the Tolstoi just to read more.

[sartorias]

I too am looking forward to The Catalans. Do get and read this one. But it gets increasingly fraught. It's just amazing that this guy who had such emotional wrenching as a child he never connected with people except his wife, and through her her son (not his own, sad to say), who had maybe three or four years of formal schooling, if that (he lied outright about his schooling, obviously ashamed of his lack) could write such trenchantly insightful novels, brilliant with image from all over the world. Redolent of experience he never had, mixed with the inward anquish with which he was quite familiar. But above all, that sense of good will toward other humans, almost a sweetness ( though that word is dangerous to use I know because so easily translates into sentiment) that characterizes his books.

[ccfinlay]

I can only think of one false or overtly sentimental moment in all his books. Astounding.

I'll read that one when I have time.

[sartorias]

Would that moment be--

SPOILER

SPOILER

SPOILER

The Geoghean episode in one of the last couple of books (the pretty boy who plays flute so well and immediately falls to his death? I found that sentimental--and unnecessary, as we'd already seen the suddenl death of pretty midshipmen.)

[rysmiel]

To which can be added, as the editors of L.M. Montgomery's papers pointed out in private letters to people asking why the publication of the journals was so slow, that sometimes you had to wait until controversial figures were dead.

I undeerstand H.G. Wells wrote his autobiography in two volumes, with the second volume not to be poublished until all concerned were dead. It's probably unfair to think of that as the Good Parts Version.

[sartorias]

But it probably is!

[rysmiel]

Well, the Juicy Parts Version it is anyway, being apparently full of details about his complicated love life.