I have Josh re-treading aback to work through the story from beginning to end. We are 'under a promise' to do one chapter a day/night. Perhaps we will read ahead, but that is not to alleviate the responsibility to read 1 chapter each day: I'm after continuing of thought.
The Comedians - by Graham Greene
Written in approx 1966.
Historical context: the western side of Hispaniola, the Island almost within sight of the eastern side of Cuba (Santiago de Cuba) is severed south/north, with a Spanish speaking western Santo Domingo country, and the French former colonialist western Haiti.
Like so many such countries (and as to which, read the Feast of the Goat by Mario Vargas Llosa), a despotic regime has taken control, and in this, under a strong man known as "Papa Doc" being Duvallier. He maintains his control by use of abhorrent practises through his secret police activity: they known as the Tontons Macoute.
As we have seen in other countries lacking proper government, the country falls into disrepair, the force of the gun gains privelege, and the people suffer. The despot holds on to power, and takes the riches of the country offshore and at some point normally flees as the regime falls: read Cuba under Batista to 1959, and the various coup and military dictatorships and attempts at stable government in Peru during the 20th century. Other examples abound around the world.
It seems Greene is intending to use comedy as stark contrast to the adverse nature of the despotic regime and the situation of the people of Haiti.
We know now from subsequent events that the decline and fall of the country and physical events (cylones, earthquakes) have the left the country the poorest in the world.
So; back to the novel:
Chapter 1
Page 1: you only get one opportunity to impress in page 1 of a novel, and I sense that an author wants to give at least a hint at the ambit and nature of the novel - something catching and attractive, memorable.
Greene writes of a statue near International Rd in haiti and cynically comments on how whether for politician or warrior, they all end up with bird excrement.
He says there is a point of no return in lives, and that rarely does the individual know at that time that the point has been reached. He implies he, the narrator, is at that point as he sails in a trading ship from New York to Port au Prince in Haiti, and draws the analogy between that point in the narrator's life and the wake left by the ship, a Netherlands steamship the Medea.
He speaks of his empty hotel and similarly empty love life. There is an air of melancholic defeatism.
Greene employes Latin and French short form phrases. No doubt they reflect his classical education, and the implications such phrases bring - what is the English for je ne sais quoi - for example?
First person narration impresses as personal and open. Almost as if he can share secrets, knowing it is only to you in the privacy of your reading space. But it might also bring with it an absence of overview- lacking in objectivity. We shall see. Maybe that is overcome by the cynicism.
He implies a bizarre business is to follow in the north on the border with Santo Domingo.
The other main characters are introduced, with the intention of adding an air of comic to it: Brown, Smith and Jones.
Smith is a vegetarian and teetotaler, and a former unsuccessful Presidential candidate. Accompanied by his competent and direct wife.
Jones impresses as a likeable charlatan. Capturing attention but being untrustworthy in that je ne sais quoi! He likes to start his drink early, and share or extract confidence.
The Tontons Macoute - president's bogeymen and henchmen, and failing economy and governance of Haiti is raised. It has worsened since Brown was there recently.
Smith and wife are invited to stay at Brown's hotel in the foothills of Port au Prince and are pleased to accept. Jones importunes himself into the same.
The Purser suggests no one leave the boat in Haiti, and they continue on after shedding the freight, and they rather go to the other end of Hispanola.
The Captain raises confidential concerns about Jones. We shall remember that in the context of Josh's surname being the same. No coincidence? Jones evidences a canny method of extracting living expenses from punters by simple card games. Just sufficient not to scare the pigeons. His story of being a Major and of battle fatigue are just not quite believable or provable (or disprovable).
Comedy is kept up by the Purser using condoms as balloons for a festive evening. The woman won't know and the men who do will enjoy the joke.
Papa Doc or the Baron - after Baron Samedi who in Voodoo mythology haunts the cemeteries in his top hat and tails, smoking his big cigar is spoken of - in context of the Northern city of Cap Haitien - near the border with Santo Domingo - is under martial law. Note now the airport has recently been renovated (2017) with funds from Venezuela and renamed after the recently deceased Hugo Chavez - that great friend of the Cuban people. I note there is an air of independence about Cap Haitien, similar to the Cuban Santiago - distanced from the main capitals.
Cap Haitien - today:
Adjourn now at p35. 17.3.17 PAK
The Comedians - by Graham Greene
Written in approx 1966.
Historical context: the western side of Hispaniola, the Island almost within sight of the eastern side of Cuba (Santiago de Cuba) is severed south/north, with a Spanish speaking western Santo Domingo country, and the French former colonialist western Haiti.
Like so many such countries (and as to which, read the Feast of the Goat by Mario Vargas Llosa), a despotic regime has taken control, and in this, under a strong man known as "Papa Doc" being Duvallier. He maintains his control by use of abhorrent practises through his secret police activity: they known as the Tontons Macoute.
As we have seen in other countries lacking proper government, the country falls into disrepair, the force of the gun gains privelege, and the people suffer. The despot holds on to power, and takes the riches of the country offshore and at some point normally flees as the regime falls: read Cuba under Batista to 1959, and the various coup and military dictatorships and attempts at stable government in Peru during the 20th century. Other examples abound around the world.
It seems Greene is intending to use comedy as stark contrast to the adverse nature of the despotic regime and the situation of the people of Haiti.
We know now from subsequent events that the decline and fall of the country and physical events (cylones, earthquakes) have the left the country the poorest in the world.
So; back to the novel:
Chapter 1
Page 1: you only get one opportunity to impress in page 1 of a novel, and I sense that an author wants to give at least a hint at the ambit and nature of the novel - something catching and attractive, memorable.
Greene writes of a statue near International Rd in haiti and cynically comments on how whether for politician or warrior, they all end up with bird excrement.
He says there is a point of no return in lives, and that rarely does the individual know at that time that the point has been reached. He implies he, the narrator, is at that point as he sails in a trading ship from New York to Port au Prince in Haiti, and draws the analogy between that point in the narrator's life and the wake left by the ship, a Netherlands steamship the Medea.
He speaks of his empty hotel and similarly empty love life. There is an air of melancholic defeatism.
Greene employes Latin and French short form phrases. No doubt they reflect his classical education, and the implications such phrases bring - what is the English for je ne sais quoi - for example?
First person narration impresses as personal and open. Almost as if he can share secrets, knowing it is only to you in the privacy of your reading space. But it might also bring with it an absence of overview- lacking in objectivity. We shall see. Maybe that is overcome by the cynicism.
He implies a bizarre business is to follow in the north on the border with Santo Domingo.
The other main characters are introduced, with the intention of adding an air of comic to it: Brown, Smith and Jones.
Smith is a vegetarian and teetotaler, and a former unsuccessful Presidential candidate. Accompanied by his competent and direct wife.
Jones impresses as a likeable charlatan. Capturing attention but being untrustworthy in that je ne sais quoi! He likes to start his drink early, and share or extract confidence.
The Tontons Macoute - president's bogeymen and henchmen, and failing economy and governance of Haiti is raised. It has worsened since Brown was there recently.
Smith and wife are invited to stay at Brown's hotel in the foothills of Port au Prince and are pleased to accept. Jones importunes himself into the same.
The Purser suggests no one leave the boat in Haiti, and they continue on after shedding the freight, and they rather go to the other end of Hispanola.
The Captain raises confidential concerns about Jones. We shall remember that in the context of Josh's surname being the same. No coincidence? Jones evidences a canny method of extracting living expenses from punters by simple card games. Just sufficient not to scare the pigeons. His story of being a Major and of battle fatigue are just not quite believable or provable (or disprovable).
Comedy is kept up by the Purser using condoms as balloons for a festive evening. The woman won't know and the men who do will enjoy the joke.
Papa Doc or the Baron - after Baron Samedi who in Voodoo mythology haunts the cemeteries in his top hat and tails, smoking his big cigar is spoken of - in context of the Northern city of Cap Haitien - near the border with Santo Domingo - is under martial law. Note now the airport has recently been renovated (2017) with funds from Venezuela and renamed after the recently deceased Hugo Chavez - that great friend of the Cuban people. I note there is an air of independence about Cap Haitien, similar to the Cuban Santiago - distanced from the main capitals.
Cap Haitien - today:
Adjourn now at p35. 17.3.17 PAK
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