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[CCBC-Net] Astonishing Octavian
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From: Elaine Dimopoulos <edimopoulos>
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:11:20 -0500
Interesting, Sue. Some of my colleagues have taken issue with the volumes along these same lines. I'd be interested to hear what you think of the second book, which situates Octavian in the midst of a documented historical event in Virginia (I won't give anything away here since you haven't yet read it). I heard Anderson speak, and he said there were scarce primary accounts of this event (journal entries, letters and such), so much of Octavian's experience is admittedly his own invention.
I certainly agree with your statement that the thrust of the volumes seems "more in tune with 20th century scholarly preoccupations and sensibilities than with 18th century concerns." I wonder, though; isn't this the case with much/all historical fiction for young people these days? Sympathy for the oppressed is a consistent central theme. Are Anderson's novels more egregious because they look, feel, and sound like novels from the period? That is, do they disappoint because you expect a sheep but get the wolf in sheep's clothing?
Elaine Dimopoulos
www.elainedimopoulos.com
On Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 6:34 AM, <Smithhemb at aol.com> wrote:
> I'm an 18th century person (scholarly work focuses on political thought in
> this era with a special interest in African-American political thought), but I
> found the first book really annoying. Clearly it wasn't because an 18th
> century prose style would put me off, nor was it a matter of length. It was
> because the book didn't ring true to me in a myriad of little ways and because
> it seemed more in tune with late 20th century scholarly preoccupations and
> sensibilities than with 18th century concerns.
>
> I'll try to spend a little time this week re-reading the first volume to
> provide examples of the things that were off (I remember one of the first ones
> was that if this sort of experiment were happening in colonial America it would
> have been in Philadelphia -- not Boston). My copy of the second volume
> just arrived and I haven't read it yet, but I intend to. Not surprisingly,
> given my own interests, I'm curious to see what Anderson is doing with this
> material.
>
> Another element of my reaction to the first volume was that this was a case
> where the truth(s) of 18th c. African-American lives were much richer and
> more telling than this particular fiction.
>
> Sue Hemberger
> Washington, DC
> **************One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks,
> and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com
> today!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212962939x1200825291/aol?redir=http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp
> %26icid=aolcom40vanity%26ncid=emlcntaolcom00000001)
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Received on Fri 21 Nov 2008 10:11:20 AM CST
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:11:20 -0500
Interesting, Sue. Some of my colleagues have taken issue with the volumes along these same lines. I'd be interested to hear what you think of the second book, which situates Octavian in the midst of a documented historical event in Virginia (I won't give anything away here since you haven't yet read it). I heard Anderson speak, and he said there were scarce primary accounts of this event (journal entries, letters and such), so much of Octavian's experience is admittedly his own invention.
I certainly agree with your statement that the thrust of the volumes seems "more in tune with 20th century scholarly preoccupations and sensibilities than with 18th century concerns." I wonder, though; isn't this the case with much/all historical fiction for young people these days? Sympathy for the oppressed is a consistent central theme. Are Anderson's novels more egregious because they look, feel, and sound like novels from the period? That is, do they disappoint because you expect a sheep but get the wolf in sheep's clothing?
Elaine Dimopoulos
www.elainedimopoulos.com
On Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 6:34 AM, <Smithhemb at aol.com> wrote:
> I'm an 18th century person (scholarly work focuses on political thought in
> this era with a special interest in African-American political thought), but I
> found the first book really annoying. Clearly it wasn't because an 18th
> century prose style would put me off, nor was it a matter of length. It was
> because the book didn't ring true to me in a myriad of little ways and because
> it seemed more in tune with late 20th century scholarly preoccupations and
> sensibilities than with 18th century concerns.
>
> I'll try to spend a little time this week re-reading the first volume to
> provide examples of the things that were off (I remember one of the first ones
> was that if this sort of experiment were happening in colonial America it would
> have been in Philadelphia -- not Boston). My copy of the second volume
> just arrived and I haven't read it yet, but I intend to. Not surprisingly,
> given my own interests, I'm curious to see what Anderson is doing with this
> material.
>
> Another element of my reaction to the first volume was that this was a case
> where the truth(s) of 18th c. African-American lives were much richer and
> more telling than this particular fiction.
>
> Sue Hemberger
> Washington, DC
> **************One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks,
> and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com
> today!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212962939x1200825291/aol?redir=http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp
> %26icid=aolcom40vanity%26ncid=emlcntaolcom00000001)
> _______________________________________________
> CCBC-Net mailing list
> CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
> Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
> http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
>
Received on Fri 21 Nov 2008 10:11:20 AM CST
