Mark Reece's Blog, page 23
May 21, 2019
Reivew- Peterloo
Peterloo: The Story of the Manchester Massacre by Jacqueline RidingMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book, which draws a good balance between describing the leading personalities involved in the Peterloo massacre, and giving an overview of British society in the wake of the Napoleonic wars. Riding plainly has more sympathy to the reformers and radicals than their conservative opponents, although given the mismatch of intellectual honesty between the two sides, that is hardly surprising.
Overviews of the reform movement and various institutions of the time are given, and there is an interesting discussion of how the reform movement drew on traditions, or myths, of English political history, such as the glorious revolution, and even feudal chivalry.
The book is short and pithy, and feels like it should be read as an introduction to the subject. In the forward, Mike Leigh writes that the event, and the characters involved, have not had the prominence in history teaching that they deserve. That seems to me to be a well founded observation- I for one knew only the sketchiest details before reading this book.
In giving an accessible and well written corrective to that ignorance, I'd rate Riding's book as entirely successful.
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May 9, 2019
Review- The Iliad
The Iliad by HomerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I don't think there's much to add about the obvious merits of the book in general, without writing another book, although I would recommend the Everyman's Library edition by Robert Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald captures the cadences in such a lovely way; he makes the writing light and delicate. And such an elegant looking volume. What a delight!
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May 6, 2019
Story publication
One of my stories will be published in Orbis magazine in October this year. Always a pleasure, as it's such an elegant journal.
Here's the link:
www.orbisjournal.com/
Here's the link:
www.orbisjournal.com/
Novel sale
My novel, 'The dreams of the eternal city', will be on sale from tomorrow (07 May 2019) for a month. Paperback £5, ebook £1.99.
Check it out or risk missing out on the zeitgeist:
https://www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/...
Check it out or risk missing out on the zeitgeist:
https://www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/...
April 9, 2019
Review- The Cowards
The Cowards by Josef ŠkvoreckýMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The book starts with the teenage protagonist, Danny, talking with his friends, who are members of a jazz band. The group have a detached and irreverent view of the adults in their small Czechoslovak town. It seems as if the book will be similar to that of other stories with teenage narrators, such as Catcher in the Rye, until it is revealed that the town is under Nazi occupation at the end of the second world war.
The book has a curious tone. Danny's thoughts are commonplace, and dominated by girls and music. Elsewhere, it is casually revealed that some of Danny's friends have been in concentration camps, or are forced labourers. There are memorable sequences where members of the group recall their experiences under occupation, including a boy who tries to seduce a committed Nazi, only to lose patience when she starts talking at length about her racial theories, pronouncing herself superior to him on those grounds.
There is a contemporary feel to the world weary tone, and it is also noticeable that many of the youths seem to use American phrases. Despite the setting, this is not a political book, with most of the characters far more interested in sex than in the war and political upheavals around them. Despite that the book was banned shortly after publication, it is not critical of the coming communist state. Indeed, the communist partisans are portrayed as the only group who consistently fight the Nazis. The town notables (presumably, the titular 'cowards') are absurdly obsessed with protecting 'order' and 'decency'- concepts that lack meaning in those circumstances. Some of the best comic moments in the book occur when the local middle class try to take charge of the situation- organising military 'patrols' of unarmed youths who are ignored by the retreating Germany army. For them, it seems, life will go on as before, their genteel collaboration already starting to be forgotten.
Aside from the final section, the majority of the book has a gentle pace, which seems well suited to Danny's frustrations with his life and town. Danny's thoughts about his situation are often trivial, and therefore poignant. The book tells a grand history on a small scale and is well worth the read.
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March 29, 2019
Brian Blessed at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
Brian Blessed is a exercise in pure charisma- an instantly likeable man. Thoroughly versed in the arts, he is able to perform Shakespearean speeches at will.
In his 'audience with' in March this year, he talked about various aspects of his life with no particular theme, and was greatly entertaining throughout. It was also interesting to hear of a time where working class children could win scholarships to study acting. The contrast with today is stark.
He made a curious claim that life is the final word rather than death. In his case, at least, I hope that he's right.
In his 'audience with' in March this year, he talked about various aspects of his life with no particular theme, and was greatly entertaining throughout. It was also interesting to hear of a time where working class children could win scholarships to study acting. The contrast with today is stark.
He made a curious claim that life is the final word rather than death. In his case, at least, I hope that he's right.
March 25, 2019
March 17, 2019
The national theatre- Macbeth
The National Theatre is currently showing Macbeth at the Wolverhampton grand.
Michael Nardone plays a strong part as Macbeth, dominating proceedings with a committed performance, although the whole troupe was good.
A lot about the play seemed right- the sets were good without being overly intricate, including poles that the witches shimmied up, and the location itself is pleasant- the Wolverhampton grand has the air of an old building, although is an airy and pleasant place.
The fight sequences in particular were well done, with sparks flying from clashing blades.
I believe some of the latter scenes and dialogue involving the witches were excised- not necessarily a bad thing, as those scenes may seem incongruous to a modern audience, set against the political drama taking place.
I didn't quite understand the modernization of the theme of the play. On the one hand, the original language was used, and the characters retained their original titles.
However, the costumes suggested to me that the characters were meant to be gang members or similar- and during the celebratory scene, loud rock music was played. I didn't understand what the setting was supposed to be, if the characters were not Scottish nobles, which is what they referred to each other as. I must confess to being often confused where the settings and costumes are modernized but the language is not. I wonder whether both should be, or neither.
Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed this performance, and would readily see other shows by this troupe.
Michael Nardone plays a strong part as Macbeth, dominating proceedings with a committed performance, although the whole troupe was good.
A lot about the play seemed right- the sets were good without being overly intricate, including poles that the witches shimmied up, and the location itself is pleasant- the Wolverhampton grand has the air of an old building, although is an airy and pleasant place.
The fight sequences in particular were well done, with sparks flying from clashing blades.
I believe some of the latter scenes and dialogue involving the witches were excised- not necessarily a bad thing, as those scenes may seem incongruous to a modern audience, set against the political drama taking place.
I didn't quite understand the modernization of the theme of the play. On the one hand, the original language was used, and the characters retained their original titles.
However, the costumes suggested to me that the characters were meant to be gang members or similar- and during the celebratory scene, loud rock music was played. I didn't understand what the setting was supposed to be, if the characters were not Scottish nobles, which is what they referred to each other as. I must confess to being often confused where the settings and costumes are modernized but the language is not. I wonder whether both should be, or neither.
Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed this performance, and would readily see other shows by this troupe.
March 6, 2019
Review- The Paradox of Acting
The Paradox of the actor (annotated): Le paradoxe sur le comédien by Denis DiderotMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The paradox of the actor is a dialogue between two participants, discussing whether fine acting is the result of expressing sensibility, or else rational self-control, described by Diderot as observation. The paradox of the title is that one of the speakers believes that emotion is expressed more artistically by an actor who does not feel passion on a personal level whilst performing.
Although many of the actors referenced are now highly obscure, this is an interesting dialogue, with philosophical implications beyond the narrow topic at hand. The argument put forward by the main speaker acts as a critique of romanticism, and sets out a compelling vision of aesthetics.
The critique of romanticism is set out more fully in Richard Sennett's great work 'The Fall of Great Man'. Diderot may be setting up an opposition of acting based on genuine emotion vs acting based on simulating emotion, rather than insisting that emotional display constitutes poor form per se. This is set out wittily when Diderot remarks "The man of sensibility is too much at the mercy of his diaphragm to be a great king..." This quote points to the wider significance of the dialogue; 'The man of sensibility', who believes that his own feelings are the highest law, is less likely to be able to actively mold those feelings in a way that enables him to creatively improve himself, and to exercise control over his environment. This is the paradox writ large- the person who is the prisoner of their own sensibility is likely to be less creative, less expressive, and more fixed in their conception of themselves than the person who conceives of their personality as something to be actively molded.
Diderot considers what is true in the theatre and answers thus: "Is it showing things as they are in nature? Certainly not. Were it so the true would be commonplace." This sets out a wide vision of an art that aims for representation of ideal types, rather than being 'true to life'. In this way, Diderot gives to art a grand vision and a grand purpose, giving the dialogue a real energy. This is all to be praised.
One can make some criticism of the pacing and lack of drama in the dialogue. The second speaker gives little opposition, and the conversation has little context, making the dialogue less compelling as a dramatic work. Also, the argument becomes repetitive in places. However, despite these faults, the paradox of the actor is an intriguing and powerful piece of philosophy that remains both vital and challenging.
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March 2, 2019
The Outcast review
The Outcast by Feridon RashidiMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Outcast is set in Iran immediately prior to the Islamic revolution. The protagonist, Kazem, has recently been released from prison, and after a period of desultory wandering, falls in love with the daughter of a wealthy man. Kazem hatches a plan to kidnap his love, Maryam, and they travel to Tehran to escape the wrath of her father, before they are caught up in the maelstrom of events.
Rashidi is a vivid, talented, enjoyable author. His descriptions pile detail on detail and stick in the mind long after the reading ends. His description of the streets of Tehran in particular are very memorable- full of street vendors, prostitutes, eccentrics, and rubbish. It is a rich and vibrant city in the telling, despite its decay. Although Rashidi gives little detail of his character's psychology, Kazem has depth and interest. He is sometimes crude and violent but also decent and loyal- ultimately a likeable sort. The reader cares about him quickly, and that interest remains.
There are two problem with the novel, however, in my view. Firstly, when the Islamic revolution is described, the tone of the book become abstract for an extended period- events are told in a essay like style in which the characters are almost entirely forgotten, or else used as mouthpieces for the author's opinions about events. This is a disappointment, as I would have been interested to hear about the revolution from Kazem's perspective.
Secondly, after being kidnapped, Maryam is almost silent, and after the revolution occurs, she is rarely mentioned. On the few occasions she speaks, she usually simply agrees with whatever Kazem is saying. This feels odd, given that she was the focus of much of the first part of the book.
These structural flaws are striking, but despite them, I would strongly recommend this book, as the prose is so well written. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
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