Is 'Finnegans Wake' a Novel?

- Which was said by whem to whom?

- It wham. But whim I can't whumember.

- Fantasy! funtasy on fantasy, amnaes fintasies! And there is nihil nuder under the clothing moon. When Ota, weewahrwificle of Torquells, bumpsed her dumpsydiddle down in her woolsark she mode our heuteyleutey girlery of peerlesses to set up in all bombossities of feudal fiertey, fanned, flounced and frangipenned, while the massstab whereby Ephialtes has exceeded is the measure, simplex mendaciis, by which our Outis cuts his truth. Arkaway now!

- Yerds and nudes say ayes and noes. Vide! Vide!

- Let Eivin bemember for Gates of Gold for their fadeless suns berayed her. Irise, Osirises! By thy mouth given unto thee! For why do you lack a link ...

More according the link later. :)

The passage above you'd find on page 493 when - as I did - randomly opening the Faber edition from 1975, which I typed to give those amongst you who would not read Finnegans Wake once a week a glimpse of what it's about.

Now being a Joyce expert, what's your answer to the question which is heading this post?

Careful, though.
Of course, for those contemporaries delectating themselves with mocking that poor Joyce would have written like Flann O'Brien had he not been completely ding-dong, the answer is easy.
However, is it? What will be the likely criteria to say or even enthusiastically shout 'Yes, it is!' or after a demonstrative yawn to groan in agony: 'No!' ?

Whatever the answer will be, it is a matter of taste. An excellent taste, of course. :)

And either one says 'Yes' or 'No', (s)he will claim to be in possession of the most exquisite taste.

Now, this could create one of those brainteasing and riddling conundrums, the more as ... what did Oscar say? About taste you can't argue; either you have it, or you have it not.

Who is right, then?

End of the beforegoing.

Let me rather create the above mentioned link.

Chris, philosopher and poet at Godfree-Morals has posted a - to my taste :) - remarkable essay. Indeed, it's an essay that I could not have written, not even if I did not happen to be ding-dong.

In the hope to create a vivid exchange of ideas, both a suggestion and a request: The discussion should take place at Chris' site, so that one can read it in one piece.


PS: For those finding this subject as interesting as the breaking news that there has been a cucumber glass detonation in Caracas: Do as if you had never read this post.
After all, it's a matter of taste, isn't it. :)

All others: Enjoy.

XIII by Dafydd ap Gwilym

Sitting - no, not under a birch - under this hazel, listening to the late afternoon's silence I thought it would be nice to welcome July with another poem by Dafydd ap Gwilym.

I have learned to carry on my nimble love boldly in secret, not in public like a boor: but now is the time to celebrate my secret love with fitting words.

The man who languishes and loves in secret loves best of all: when she and I (vain couple!) walked among crowds we talked so pleasantly together but none guessed our answers. For a long while we embraced and played at being outlaws for a joke, but now we must move with strictest secrecy because of evil tales and a foul tongue that destroys us with such stories, putting a slanderous stain on our innocent names with his words. We were proud of our care in keeping our love hidden, and I believed and worshipped under the young leaves where my golden love was. There was sweet opportunity and a pleasant life for us under the leaves of the young birch-trees.

Pleasant it was to keep our secret, hiding and adoring in the wood; to wander on the shore of the sea, or stay within the boundaries of the wood; to plant birch-trees, or weave the plumage of the wood in patterns; to tell my love to the slim girl or stand with her and look out over solitary meadows.

Going to the woods with her lover is a fine way for a girl to pass the day, there to sit silent or suddenly smiling, laugh lip to lip. So we took our pleasure together in the groves of the wood, avoiding all people, sharing our complaints or drinking mead together, or making love or lying still .... keeping our love hidden. That was a perfect time .... more than "perfect" I can say nothing.

Ah, now I start to understand

In a Past Life...

You Were: A Friendly Philosopher. Where You Lived: Turkey. How You Died: In Childbirth.

Who Were You In a Past Life?

Hat tip to Jams O'Donnell Esq..
While I do have no doubt that once I was a friendly (!) philosopher living in Turkey (!), it is, of course, nonsense to think Jams once was an insane monk.

R.I.P., Sir Veillance

The tombstone of Sir Veillance

The photo I pinched from James who thankfully had pinched it from Ian Grey.
Thanks to both gentlemen.

Gülen top of the brainless

Ha ha ha - continue til paragraph 114.

Deleted 113. Thus paragraph Paragraph 115 de facto is paragraph 2, or vice versa.

Just checked the headlines posted by Erkan 30 minutes ago. Lots to read, indeed!
Gülen tops intellectuals list. Can't stop laughing.

You see, an intellectual per definitionem is an intelligent person without brains.

One for Mister and Miss Pelling

And, please, don't think I want to redicule you or anybody else.

Spreading Mr. O'Donnell's delight

Oh dear.

Just in time I remembered that only yesterday I came to learn that long posts put most people off, and hence one should try to keep it to three or four paragraphs, and thus deleted the 69 paragraphs I had composed in order to give you a brief introduction why I'd spread Mr. O'Donnell's delight.

Alright then: Herewith it's done.



Ah, 'or four'. This offers me the opportunity to wish my esteemed readers a most pleasant weekend. :)

Spreading Mr. Kemal's news

This morning, during breakfast intensively reasoning the international situation Tetrapilotomos said:

Apropos Capita Turciensis, did you read this and this at Internation Musing?

By commenting I even risked a step backwards on my quest trying to become the politest blogger.

That's why I do ask. It was the first comment for quite a while, and by checking the labels Turkey and Turkishness on your blog I found your latest entry on Turkish affairs dates from Valentine's Day. Lost your love for Turkey, Sean?

Love?

Okay, interest.

No. And yes. I am a bit tired of reading always the same news, let alone writing about. Call it my Thoreau syndrom.

Well, anyway, I suppose I've news which will be of interest for you, your readers, for Turkey and the unimportant rest of the world.

I am all ears. [Yawn]

Later, Sean, later. I don't wish to keep you from mowing the lawn.

*

[Hours later, Tetrapilotomos and I sitting on balcony]

Well?

Yes, Sean?

You said you have an interesting news, for a change.

Ah yes. Almost forgot about. ... Well, it's just an exclusive interview with Mustafa Kemal.

The very Mustafa Kemal?

Yes.

You're kidding.

My trustworthy source swears to high heaven her source's source is above any doubt and suspicion, and that the interview has, of course, been presented for authorization, and got Mr. Kemal's imprimatur. Want to read?

Please do it for me. My eyes are a bit tired this afternoon.

Alright then. [T. unfolding a sheet of paper]

Thanks for the audience, Effen - ... err ... Sir.

You are welcome. Tea or Raki?

Raki?

Fortunately liver cirrhosis is unknown in this sphere.

A Raki with the tea then, please. You are still follo...

Let's waste no time. Yes, I am best informed according almost everything which is happening in Turkey.

Thus, end of the preliminaries. What's your appraisement?

There is something rotten in the state of Turkey.

You mean ...

Well, not something. Almost everything.

Are you refering to the recent governing party, or ...

I am refering to all: education, historians, political parties, judiciary, media, government, opposition, clergy, milit...

Sorry, Sir. Opposition? You criticise the defenders of Kemalism?

Kemalism? [laughing] They may call it Kemalism, and pretend being the defenders of my principles, but what they are doing has nothing to do with my person and with my ideas.

?

They do obviously not even know what's the meaning of what they call Kemalism. Since November 1938 they have just been utilizing my name in order to make profit; to fill their pockets and to safeguard their power based privileges. Ah, let's speak about football.

Oh yes! Would you, however, allow me to ask two further questions?

Ask.

Looking back, would you say that all your deeds were in accordance with your principles?

[Smiling] Hm. After the match we all are wiser, would you agree?

I'm all ears.

Some other time. My friend Adnan is waiting for our weekly game of chess. What's about meeting again Thursday afternoon?

Tomorrow's not possible?

No, in the morning I'll have a hack with Turgut, afterwards it's time for archery, and ...

Sorry, archery?

Yes, six arrows daily. Well, and in the afternoon some of my Armenian friends and I shall prepare ourselves for watching the semi final. [Refilling the glasses]

Your Armenian friends?

Yes. We'll together watch the game. Your tip?

I can even already tell you the result of the final, but, of course, I do not wish to spoil the tension ...

Out with it.

Russia 2 - Turkey 5.

Now, you are a very polite interviewer. Thursday we may even talk about what's a great tragedy. Your second question?

Lots of your countrymen and -women are being prosecuted for allegedly insulting you and your principles. What do you th...

Pah. Am I Kemal Kerinçsiz? Nobody would ever be able to insult me.

Sure? Some people argue Turks do love feeling perpetual insulted more than football.

[Laughing] And next year someone will find out it's the seventh arrow of the Kemalistic principles. As for your question: Yes, I am sure.

Why?

First and foremost, because I am as dead as a dodo.

Good argument.

Isn't it? And please, spread the news amongst those who wouldn't yet know.

Promised, Sir. Apropos dodo, there do exist two definitions. By 'I am as dead as a dodo' you were refering to the first, I suppose?

Evet. As for the second definition, we may speak about in case we happen to appreciate f.e. character and intellect of Deniz Baykal.

Hm, Mr. Baykal might not only be not amused but feel badly insulted.

His problem. He can sue me. [smiling, raising his glass] Serefe.

Tiny piece of ornithology

Merhaba. :) You have read the interview with Mr Kemal? And now you are a bit curious about what's a dodo? Welcome then, to a tiny ornithology lecture. Thanks to leo, here we go:

Main Entry: do·do

Pronunciation: \ˈdō-(ˌ)dō\
Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural dodoes or dodos

Etymology: Portuguese doudo, from doudo silly, stupid

Date: 1628

1 a: an extinct heavy flightless bird (Raphus cucullatus syn. Didus ineptus of the family Raphidae) of the island of Mauritius that was larger than a turkey and was related to the pigeon b: an extinct flightless bird (Raphus solitarius) of the island of Réunion similar to and closely related to the dodo

2 a: one hopelessly behind the times b: a stupid person .

*

In case you have any further questions, we - i.e. Tetrapilotomos and I - will be pleased and do our best in the hope to be able to widen your horizon. Yakında görüşmek üzere? :)

Capita Turciensis

Recently - I was just reading the last chapter of The Bastard of Istanbul - I heard Tetrapilotomos chuckle, which induced following dialogue:

Yes?

Blimey, no wonder there's a steady increase of population in Turkey.

What are you busy with, Tetrapilotomos?

Merowinger time.

I see. And what does this have to do with the population growth in Turkey?

Do you know what aureum caput regni means?

Golden head of the imperium, or so?

Not bad. And caput orbis?

Head of the world.

Not bad. And what's a colloquial German word for broken?

Kaputt. Spelled with one t less in English it means a) utterly finished, defeated, or destroyed and b) unable to function.

Not bad. And do you know what a condom is being called in Turkish.

No idea.

Kaput.

And thus spake Molly

Listen, watch & enjoyce. :)

Yes, it's for you, Poldy

Novel finished, Sean?

Why?

It's June 16th.

Ah, is it?

Not even a tiny little 10.000 words essay?

Did you ever see a middle finger erecting?

Wouldn't you call anybody impolite were they to answer a question by a question?

Yes.

So let's start again. Novel finished, Sean?

The prudent hen does not cackle, before the egg is laid. Why do you ask?

It's June 16th.

Yes.

And? Any tribute to Henry Flower Esq.?

Yes.

Where?

Here.


Update:
Actually, I thought ...

Come on, Tetrapilotomos. Could any man's words surpass a woman's whispers of love?

Ever noticed that Molly ...

I know what you are going to ask. To answer your counter question, Jove: Yes, but ...

But?

...

I see. Time the hen's laying the egg.

Yes.

Caught bed-handed

Now, could any biped get angry when a tomcat called Schrödinger would snap at the chance to at least once nestle down in a freshly made bed?

Wishing everybody a splendid Sunday. And why not in bed? :)