From: <treilly@ozemail.com.au>
Subject: The Best Introduction to the Mountains
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2002 22:44:28 +1100

Yes, the naive political content certainly detracted from the admirably heartfelt remainder.  Can it be seriously questioned that societies of hundreds of millions require more complex self regulation than Anglo Saxon tribes of a few thousand at most?  Bureaucratic this might be, but there are worse things than bureaucracy.  I suppose Wolfe must say he would prefer to live among the Goths and Vandals than in Rome of the same era.  I would prefer now, and Rome next.

The (Heinleinesque) political asides irresistably reminded me of Sir Peter Medawar's comment on a similar essay by C S Lewis idealising the traditional feudal relationship of old England where every man knew his place and was happy.  Medawar pointed out that of course Lewis in writing this unquestionably envisaged himself as lord of the manor!  The same assumption runs deep in Wolfe's words.

I will try to find the exact quote when I return home to Sydney in a few weeks.

Tim


This message was sent through MyMail http://www.mymail.com.au