From: jclute@cix.compulink.co.uk (John Clute)
Subject: Re: (whorl) Neighbor + Inhumu + One?
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 13:19 +0100 (BST)

In-Reply-To: <200008230256.TAA15037@lists1.best.com>
Nutria:
        To speak very broadly indeed, which I think is sometimes necessary 
with Wolfe, it does strike me that the tonus (as distinguished from the 
intellectual doctrinal structuring) of Wolfe's major works is anything but 
Christian. Except maybe in certain parts of the book we are now 
considering, the melacholia is profound: _In Blue's Waters_ , and many of 
the later stories, are acts of heroism (it seems) against a very deep 
sadness, which Christians (and others) might put a term to. I myself would 
tend to cod gnosticism here: it feels like the occlusion or bondage of the 
blinding world, to me. 
        We may see _Return to the Whorl_ continue the transformations of 
tonus audible (I think) in the current book; but I wouldn't exactly bet on 
a triumph of THE comedy.
        But this is a topic without closure. And premature at this point, 
though it is the sort of consideration all the decipherments must be a 
road to.
        (I've just now noticed a later message from you which makes it 
very clear you have some broadly similar thoughts about the subordination 
of all schemas (even those we can legitimately pin on Wolfe himself) to 
the summae which is the felt work of art, sort of thing.)

Best,
John C 


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