Subject
"Barbara Braun" (fwd)
Date
Body
Further thoughts on title/author puzzle in the New Yorker "Review":
"When Lilacs Last" by Barbara Braun
"Amen Corner" by T. S. Elmann
1] T. S. Elmann is an obvious reference to Elliot and Mann
2] "Mann" translates to "man"; an "el" is either a cloth measure
derived from the distance of elbow to middle finger, or, the thinnest
width of type, narrower than an "em" or "en", in fact, infinitesimally
narrow: a "whit".
3] If "Elmann" translates to "Whitman, then
a] the titles and authors have been switched [those New Yorker
editors again?], and
b] we are instructed to proceed with this as a translation puzzle.
4] "Amen Corner" has a referential ring, although it may also be a
commentary. Three candidates are available:
a] Play by James Baldwin, written in 1954 and produced/published
1964, thus anacronistic.
b] A spot on the Augusta National Golf Course near the Hogan
Bridge.{?}
c] Courtesy of Richard Nicholson, Antique Maps and Prints, Chester,
England:
"It is situated near St. Paul's Cathedral, and Amen Corner like other
places in the same area, such as Ave Maria Lane, Creed Lane, and Amen
Court. Taking their names from their position near the cathedral or
after words recited by medieval clergy of St. Paul's during their
procession round the precincts." [Nice litho on their website]
5] "Barbara Braun": Barbara relates in English and German to
"barbaric", "barbarische"; "Braun" of course in English is "Brown".
6] Then '"Amen Corner" *by* Barbara Braun' may translate to a
disparagement of a brown barbarian [ = native American, descriptive not
ethnic] who propounds doctrines *about* [in the vicinity of] The
Anglican Church.
Part of VN's distaste for psychoanalysis related to its undocumentable,
"wild" quality. Apologies are made if, in fact, all the associations
above are only my own.
Sandy Drescher
Lanesboro MA 01237-9765
drescher@bcn.net
"When Lilacs Last" by Barbara Braun
"Amen Corner" by T. S. Elmann
1] T. S. Elmann is an obvious reference to Elliot and Mann
2] "Mann" translates to "man"; an "el" is either a cloth measure
derived from the distance of elbow to middle finger, or, the thinnest
width of type, narrower than an "em" or "en", in fact, infinitesimally
narrow: a "whit".
3] If "Elmann" translates to "Whitman, then
a] the titles and authors have been switched [those New Yorker
editors again?], and
b] we are instructed to proceed with this as a translation puzzle.
4] "Amen Corner" has a referential ring, although it may also be a
commentary. Three candidates are available:
a] Play by James Baldwin, written in 1954 and produced/published
1964, thus anacronistic.
b] A spot on the Augusta National Golf Course near the Hogan
Bridge.{?}
c] Courtesy of Richard Nicholson, Antique Maps and Prints, Chester,
England:
"It is situated near St. Paul's Cathedral, and Amen Corner like other
places in the same area, such as Ave Maria Lane, Creed Lane, and Amen
Court. Taking their names from their position near the cathedral or
after words recited by medieval clergy of St. Paul's during their
procession round the precincts." [Nice litho on their website]
5] "Barbara Braun": Barbara relates in English and German to
"barbaric", "barbarische"; "Braun" of course in English is "Brown".
6] Then '"Amen Corner" *by* Barbara Braun' may translate to a
disparagement of a brown barbarian [ = native American, descriptive not
ethnic] who propounds doctrines *about* [in the vicinity of] The
Anglican Church.
Part of VN's distaste for psychoanalysis related to its undocumentable,
"wild" quality. Apologies are made if, in fact, all the associations
above are only my own.
Sandy Drescher
Lanesboro MA 01237-9765
drescher@bcn.net