So why is that? Three guesses: [Read more…]
The King of the Golden River – Ruskin
August 8, 2008 by 1 Comment
Another tale of three brothers, subtitled ‘The Black Brothers: A Legend of Stiria,’ this fairy tale by the very young John Ruskin (1841) should get you in the mood for Tales of Beedle the Bard. I couldn’t find a version online with Dumbledore’s commentary so I hope we can fill it in. My bet is that Ruskin, as a serious reader of Coleridge and as a Romantic in recovery from consumption, wrote this with the Dantean three layers: narrative line, moral line, and almost invisible alchemical artistry to transform our vision in a kind of esemplastic epiphany. Let me know what you see, especially in the description of the glacier and the transparency of nature.
Wizard News MidWeek Round-Up
August 6, 2008 by 1 Comment
I’m neck deep in some overdue writing but here are some online Potter News Items of general interest. Your thoughts (and patience with me for not sharing my thoughts here just yet) are much appreciated!
*From Computerworld.com: IBM has created a real-world Pensieve. Sounds like more of a Remember-All. “IBM software acts as human memory backup: IBM working on software that just may help you better recollect all the forgotten pieces of your life.”
* In Movie News: the new Batman film did not surpass Harry Potter in UK release date revenues, Jason Isaacs describes the ease with which he becomes Lucius Malfoy (and his eagerness to resume role), and tickets for Daniel Radcliffe’s Broadway run in Equus are going on sale this week.
* Fandom good news and better news: Terminus 2008 opens tomorrow in Chicago but there will be a 30 WRock band concert today as a warm-up and the Harry Potter theme park opening has been delayed until at least 2010. ‘WRock for Darfur‘ will be held 23 August for Potter band fans who didn’t get enough in Chicago.
(All News Items above were collected from Wizard News.com, your one-stop destination for such stuff.)
Medievalist: “Potter Value Over-Blown”
August 3, 2008 by 9 Comments
I rarely post links to snarky criticism of the Potter books because there isn’t enough substance between the snide asides and sarcastic, patronizing assertions-posing-as-arguments for even an Elvendork like me to get me teeth into as a response. L.O.O.N.y Linda, though, sent me this piece from a Medievalist that made my morning. It and a previous one pointing out what Ms. Rowling herself has admitted (her Latin spells are clever not genius or even Eton grade Latin) left me smiling and taking myself a little less seriously. [Read more…]
You Can Buy ‘Beedle the Bard’ for $100!
July 31, 2008 by 9 Comments
In a hardback, ribbed spine, collector’s edition available only At Amazon.com. Thank you, Dr. Sturgis, for the news. There is also a “standard edition” in paperback going on sale 4 December 2008 for $7.59. All proceeds will be going to Children’s High Level Group, Ms. Rowling’s preferred charity.
The ‘surprise inside’? Commentary and footnotes for the five stories by the late Albus Dumbledore! I think (1) we are about to read Ms. Rowling’s satirical treatment of literary criticism, and, perhaps, (2) we’ll get some idea of how she thinks it should be done. Stand by, Elvendorks! This may not be pretty…
I’m confident, though, of one thing: we now know July’s bestseller at Amazon — and I expect for the next few months. Happy birthday, Ms. Rowling, and thank you for this gift.
All-Pros, your comments, please!
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