you convinced me to join. another internet addiction yay!

posted by kristenkennedy at 7:45 pm (EST) on Jun 4, 2007

Sounds great. I think I must start to keep a list of books I want to read. Bessie Head keeps coming up but I've not yet found her work in a second hand shop, should perhaps try the library instead! I enjoy Coetzee, and Brink also (although I am behind with him!). Have you read Krog's book on the trc?

posted by charl08 at 6:43 am (EST) on May 27, 2007

Yes, loved it. What faculty was the trauma course on, that sounds fascinating. Your group sounds good, I'll join up. Don't suppose you've come across any on african fiction, have you? we have a (real life!) group and I'm always looking for recommendations...

posted by charl08 at 12:00 pm (EST) on May 25, 2007

It's hard to work and be in school. I worked full time while writing my dissertation. Good luck with the process, and keep in touch! I'd love to hear how ol' Prester John is doing.

posted by DoctorRobert at 10:52 pm (EST) on May 24, 2007

I'm glad to add to your summer reading! Will you have your thesis done soon? Are you applying for Ph.D. programs?

posted by DoctorRobert at 5:09 pm (EST) on May 23, 2007

I didn't get your Saladin comment. Too bad! That sometimes happens when I try to leave a comment on discussion threads. Give it another try, I'm interested . . .

Robert

posted by DoctorRobert at 7:58 pm (EST) on May 22, 2007

Thank you so much! I really appreciate you sharing the bibliography with me. You'll find some of these books on my catalog in a couple of days (I use my catalog to manage my wish list as well my holdings). I'm especially intrigued by the "historical Prester John" material. I didn't realize that he was anything but a mythic figure.

Wolfram's Parzival is considered to be the most polished version of the Grail story, though the poetry is lost on me since I don't know German. But it lacks something in mythic depth--that is, the suggestion of symbolic meaning behind the story--which is much more obvious in versions by Chretien and de Boron. Wolfram is the only one I've read so far who mentions Prester John, and it is a throw-away line at the end. Wolfram's attitude toward the Muslim world is quite remarkable. He celebrates chivalry without regard to religious affiliation--the "infidels" are baptised, but their valor as knights is quite separate from their religion. It's interesting, however, that Wolfram seemed to have known nothing about Islam. He represents Muslims as worshipping the Greco-Roman pantheon. Still, maybe there's something worth pursuing in there, especially since you're dealing with Crusader literature.

Robert

posted by DoctorRobert at 5:49 pm (EST) on May 22, 2007

The bibliography would be great! I'm always eager to plunder bibliographies, and that one of the features I like most about LibraryThing.

In Wolfram, Prester John is the son of Parzival's half-brother Feirefiz. Is this normal in the tradition your are looking at? I know that Arthurian literature tends to gobble up other traditions.

I'd post pictures of my 14-year-old cat Iago if I only had a digital camera.

Robert

posted by DoctorRobert at 11:15 am (EST) on May 22, 2007

Your thesis sounds really interesting! I hope the process is going smoothly. I'll have to raid your catalog for recommendations on crusader literature, a subject I'd like to be more familiar with.

My dissertation was about the theory of "accommodation" in 17th century English preaching theory. Since finishing the Ph.D., I've continued to do work on Donne's sermons and I've become more involved in myth theory and criticism. It's slow going because I have a day job, but I enjoy it thoroughly.

Great cat, by the way.

Robert

posted by DoctorRobert at 4:43 pm (EST) on May 21, 2007

I did take a Donne survey with Gilman, but he wasn't on my committee. Anthony Low was my main advisor, since I focused on religious literature. I took Momma's Anglo-Saxon class, which I enjoyed very much, and was happy when she volunteered to sit in on my defense. I haven't worked with Rust or Vitz.

So what are you doing on Prester John?

posted by DoctorRobert at 12:27 am (EST) on May 21, 2007

Hi Jennifer,

I saw from your message on the Graduate Students group that you're doing medieval studies at NYU. I did my Ph.D. in 17th century English lit there (graduated 2004), but I took a few medieval courses. Are you working with Mary Carruthers, Robert Raymo, or Hal Momma? How are you liking the program?

Robert

posted by DoctorRobert at 8:42 pm (EST) on May 20, 2007