Tag Archives: Novels

1994: An Insane Premise

Posted on September 2, 2019 by corvusfugit

In an afterword to the 25th anniversary edition of Portnoy’s Complaint, Philip Roth tells a story about the first lines of his novels. When he was living in Chicago in the late 1950’s, he says, he once went to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1970's, 1990's, 20th Century, Autobiography, Books, Film, Judaism, Novels, Philip Roth, USA, Writing | Leave a comment

1753: Dedication

Posted on October 24, 2018 by corvusfugit

Tobias Smollett dedicated his third novel to himself: TO DOCTOR ——— You and I, my good friend, have often deliberated on the difficulty of writing such a dedication as might gratify the self-complacency of a patron, without exposing the author … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Art, Books, Great Britain, Novels, Painting, Portraits, Scotland, Tobias Smollett, Writing | Leave a comment

1939: That Mighty Obstruction

Posted on October 7, 2018 by corvusfugit

Ernest Vincent Wright’s 1939 novel, Gadsby, was written without words that contain the letter “e.” Here is the opening: If youth, throughout all history, had had a champion to stand up for it; to show a doubting world that a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1930's, 20th Century, Books, Ernest Vincent Wright, John Keats, Lipograms, Novels, USA, Writing | Leave a comment

1974: Author Awarded Avocado

Posted on September 4, 2018 by corvusfugit

The opening of Walter Abish’s 1974 novel, Alphabetical Africa: Ages ago, Alex, Allen and Alva arrived at Antibes, and Alva allowing all, allowing anyone, against Alex’s admonition, against Allen’s angry assertion: another African amusement . . . anyhow, as all … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1970's, 20th Century, Africa, Ants, Archaeology, Austria, Books, Novels, USA, Walter Abish | Leave a comment

1927: Work in Progress

Posted on August 9, 2018 by corvusfugit

On May 20, 1927, James Joyce wrote to Harriet Shaw Weaver about what should happen if he were unable to complete Finnegans Wake. Another writer, Joyce said, should take it up and finish it; he had the person in mind: … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1920's, 20th Century, Food and Drink, Goats, Ireland, James Joyce, James Stephens, Novels, Poetry, Writing | Leave a comment

1936: Then It Will Be Over

Posted on July 8, 2018 by corvusfugit

Here we are, alone again. It’s all so slow, so heavy, so sad … I’ll be old soon. Then at last it will be over. So many people have come into my room. They’ve talked. They haven’t said much. They’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1930's, 2000's, 20th Century, 21st Century, Adam Stennett, Animals, Art, Books, Death, France, Louis-Ferdinand Céline, Mammals, Medicine, Mice, Novels, Painting, USA, Writing | Leave a comment

1953: Description

Posted on June 26, 2018 by corvusfugit

As for his feet, sometimes he wore on each a sock, or on the one a sock and on the other a stocking, or a boot, or a shoe, or a slipper, or a sock and a boot, or a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1950's, 20th Century, France, Ireland, Novels, Samuel Beckett, Shoes, Writing | Leave a comment

1957: Description

Posted on April 28, 2018 by corvusfugit

From Alain Robbe-Grillet’s 1957 novel, Jealousy: Now the shadow of the southwest column– at the corner of the veranda on the bedroom side– falls across the garden. The sun, still low in the eastern sky, rakes the valley from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1950's, 20th Century, Agriculture, Alain Robbe-Grillet, Books, Food and Drink, France, Maps, Novels | Leave a comment

2001: Was the Silence Gloomy?

Posted on March 17, 2018 by corvusfugit

Gilbert Sorrentino’s 2001 novel Gold Fools is written entirely in questions. Here are the opening paragraphs: Were Nort Shannon, Dick Shannon, and Bud Merkel exceptionally morose as they sat before the small bunkhouse and about the flames of the blazing … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 19th Century, 2000's, 21st Century, Gilbert Sorrentino, Novels, Oddities, Photography, USA, Writing | Leave a comment

1922: Description of a Demon

Posted on March 3, 2018 by corvusfugit

The hum of talk drowned the words, but leaning forward Lessingham saw where the arras curtains behind the dais parted for a moment, and one of princely bearing advanced past the high seats down the body of the hall. His … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1920's, 20th Century, Books, Demons, E. R. Eddison, Great Britain, Novels | Leave a comment