What follows are notes on E.F. Watling’s introduction to his translation of Seneca’s plays, published by Penguin Books in 1966, then a summary with comments of the four Seneca plays it contains: Seneca’s biography Lucius Annaeus Seneca was born in 4 BC Corduba, Spain, the second son of Annaeus Seneca the Elder. His father had […]
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Tamburlaine Part I by Christopher Marlowe (1587)
‘I that am termed the scourge and wrath of God, The only fear and terror of the world…’ Full title of the first printed edition, 1590 Tamburlaine the Great. Who, from a Scythian Shephearde, by his rare and woonderfull Conquests, became a most puissant and mightye Monarque. And (for his tyranny, and terrour in Warre) […]
Posted by Simon on October 19, 2020
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/tamburlaine-part-1-christopher-marlowe/
Of Friendship by Francis Bacon
Bacon is a hugely enjoyable read and his pithy brevity is a welcome break from Cicero’s rambling verbosity. Francis Bacon Francis Bacon was born in 1561 into an eminent family. His uncle was the Lord Cecil who became the first minister to Queen Elizabeth. Like Cicero he made a career at the bar and in […]
Posted by Simon on July 6, 2022
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2022/07/06/of-friendship-francis-bacon/
Zero History by William Gibson (2010)
Zero History is a 400-page novel about has-been rock stars and pretentious advertising executives in search of a reclusive designer of ‘really cool’ jeans and jackets. It is mind-bogglingly shallow, pretentious and boring. Zero History is the third novel in William Gibson’s so-called ‘Blue Ant trilogy’, itself the third of Gibson’s three trilogies of novels. […]
Posted by Simon on April 23, 2021
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2021/04/23/zero-history-william-gibson/
Worstward Ho by Samuel Beckett (1983)
Try again. Fail again. Fail better. Worstward Ho is a short piece of prose published by Samuel Beckett towards the end of his life. The title is a parody of the adventure novel Westward Ho! by Victorian novelist, Charles Kingsley, which itself is a reference to the Elizabethan play Westward Ho! by Thomas Dekker and […]
Posted by Simon on February 15, 2021
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2021/02/15/worstward-ho-samuel-beckett/
Murphy by Samuel Beckett (1938)
‘Unless you want me to call a policewoman,’ said Murphy, ‘cease your clumsy genustuprations.’ (Murphy page 56) This is Beckett’s first published novel. I expected it to be an improvement on his first published book, the collection of linked short stories, More Pricks Than Kicks, but the essential feel, the worldview and style are very much […]
Posted by Simon on November 2, 2020
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2020/11/02/murphy-samuel-beckett/
Books & Boots 