The Wake

Questions About The Wake

by Paul Kingsnorth

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Answered Questions (4)

Does anybody else think that Buccmaster, the hero, would actually be a villain if the story was told from any other point of view other than his own?
Marie Yes, I think that what we're following is the mental unravelling of Buccmaster. He has not just lost his world externally - he is losing his internal …moreYes, I think that what we're following is the mental unravelling of Buccmaster. He has not just lost his world externally - he is losing his internal world, his grip on reality. In short, he is going mad. The double-columned internal dialogue that he is having with Weland Smith could even be a sign of schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder. It reminds me a little of the portrayal of Gollum/Smeagol who has the same kind of ongoing internal dialogue.(less)
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How many of the places in this book are based on real locations? Can we put together a glossary of locations?
Dave Taylor It's all set within a relatively small area - and the contrast between Buccmaster's grand ambitions and that restricted local scope is a telling story…moreIt's all set within a relatively small area - and the contrast between Buccmaster's grand ambitions and that restricted local scope is a telling story element in itself.

His title - "of Holland" - gives us the general setting - we are in or somewhere near the modern district of South Holland in Lincolnshire, which lies between Peterborough and The Wash and takes its name from the earlier administrative subdivision (of mediaeval origin) "Parts of Holland", which stretched further north around the Wash, also taking in Boston.

The tale appears to start a few miles north of Market Deeping; the first clear identification seems to be the modern village of Langtoft, and just north of that is modern Baston, which I think must be "Bacstune". Then Stamford, some miles to the west, is clearly written.(less)
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do people know of any other novels that use a linguistic treatment like this one? specifically books written in a modified form of old or middle english? sincerely, a college student just trying to write her thesis
Arimathea Do you mean books written by a modern author? You might try "Riddley Walker" by Russell Hoban. …moreDo you mean books written by a modern author? You might try "Riddley Walker" by Russell Hoban. (less)
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I had the audiobook for this on my wishlist at the Kobo store but it has since been removed and now it seems it isn't available anywhere. Does anyone know why this would be the case? All traces of it have vanished.
G L I don't know why it vanished from the Kobo store--I don't do Kobo. But the audio book is available on Hoopla, if you have access to that.…moreI don't know why it vanished from the Kobo store--I don't do Kobo. But the audio book is available on Hoopla, if you have access to that.(less)
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Unanswered Questions (2)

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