Dennis,
I think that speaking of modern literature, Faulkner is one
of the important writers. I do not know why, but it seems
that he is not correctly paid his due by recent contemporary
Aglo-Saxon literary critics and lit. historians.
I'm glad to hear that you admire Conrad. I share this with
you. He's one of the real founders of modern writing and
modern literature. His legacy and influence is outstanding.
Personally I see him *also* as one of the distant roots of
modern noir, roots of literary or mystery noir novels. That's
a point of view I advocated since quite some time on this
list. Conrad can be reread and reared. And must.
I think that the Hemingway heritage is more strictly focused
on minimalization of style and "distanciation", influencing a
lot of writers who more or less are using a behaviorist
writing in their novels. On the other hand, his often
exaggerated stand proclaiming and supporting a "life of
action(s)" - and that kind of views he often developed in his
novels- is now obsolete, I think.
Conrad's views and feelings on the human condition, to the
contrary, are universal.
E(tienne) Borgers Hard-Boiled Mysteries http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6384
Dennis Lynds wrote:
>Dear Jacques,
>
> .../..
>So you noticed the touch of Faulkner, did you. You
may be the first one, or
>at least the first to mention it. (People tend to
approach experience and
>literature with preconceived notions. We see what we
expect to see, what we
>want to see, and most readers of mystery and detctive
stories don't expect
>to see Faulkner, or for most part want to. Hence
Barzun and Wilson.)
>
>But, yes, I have read and reread all of Faulkner's
novels countless times.
>There is always more to discover in each one. He is
to me the greatest
>American writer, and possibly, together with Conrad,
the greatest writer.
>Conrad was my first great discovery, and to me it is
clear that he must have
>been Faulkner's too. It is obvious that Faulkner owed
a large debt to
>Conrad, and the two of them have been large
influences. Not, obviously, in
>style or meter, as you say, but in much else. In
style I am of that
>generation in which no writer could escape Hemingway
(not even Faulkner if
>you read some of his early stories. I recall one,
it's name escapes me at
>the moment, that was about WW One, and was perfect
Hemingway.) We did our
>best to escape Papa, but it was difficult, and many
potentially good were
>destroyed by it. I think I succeeded with the help of
Conrad, Faulkner,
>Hardy, the American proletarian writers, and, above
all, Nelson Algren. Of
>course none of that is really for me to say, but I
thank you for noticing
>the Faulkner in me, I couldn't have a greater
compliment.
>
>Best,
>Dennis-Michael
>
>
>
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