Re: provocative web page
Rebecca McCallum (remc@uhura.cc.rochester.edu)
Wed, 17 Dec 1997 19:28:30 -0500 (EST)
Hmm, I'm not sure exactly what to think about this woman writing her
memoirs and including her affair with Salinger... However, it's gotten me
thinking about the phenomenon of younger women writers connecting
themselves to older, much more famous male writers. It's definitely been
seen before! I'm thinking of Bettina von Arnim (early 19th C, I think)
and the letters she published between herself (as a late teen or early
20-something) and Goethe, the then aging giant of German literature. And
this semester I just took a class on a 14th C. French poet/musician named
Machaut, who also had a young woman practically throw herself at him when
he was quite a bit older. And she also insisted that their whole affair be
documented in a superb and LONG lyric poem called "Le Voir Dit."
What do people think of this?? I'd like to think there are better ways
for women to achieve fame and visibility. (Actually, we all know there
are!) I'd also love to know of some examples of younger, less known men
connecting themselves to older, more famous women - it would be sad if
this were a gender-specific phenomenon.
(Sorry this isn't directly about Salinger...)
- Rebecca