More on Seymour
PODESTA,Lesley (Lesley.PODESTA@deetya.gov.au)
Fri, 24 Oct 1997 10:56:32 +1000
On 6 October DC Spohr attached the message that he thought was the best
answer he'd ever seen about Seymour ie (I think some of you may be
looking too hard for the meaning of Seymour, or at least looking in the
wrong place....)
I also think it is the best answer I've ever seen and I've been carrying
a copy around all squashed up in my wallet and I read it in those three
minute breaks between work, baby, etc.
Last night I reread Seymour : An Introduction. Aah what a fantastic
story.What strikes me even more is the dis/connection with the army. On
the one hand Seymour has this family and there is constant,
overwhelming detail on family, children, parents - and on the other hand
there is the almost lifelessness of army, war. I don't know, there is
just such a contrast between the domestic which seems to be overflowing
with life and child (See for example Esme) and his bare descriptions of
his time in the army during WWII. Somehow it helps me make sense of his
reverence of Muriel & her mother's bond and fascination and happiness
and his status as a returned serviceman.
Am I treading old ground here?
In regard to covers, you may be interested to know that the contemporary
covers in Australia are silver with black print. The original first
edition in Oz of Catcher (which I have!) is hideous orange with JDS'
photo on the back, critics' quotes on the front and the most gruesome
blurb on the inside cover about this exciting novel asking the key
questions about today's youth. NO WONDER JDS demanded plain - it is
truly sacrilege.
Sorry about my delays in entering discussions - I log in at work and we
are extremely busy.