- Heaven vs. Hell -- Cheryl, 21:06:47 07/23/08 Wed
I heard a bit on NPR about a story where a man thinks he has died and gone to heaven but after a few days, he realizes that he is actually in hell. Does anyone know the name of the story?
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- Help! -- Matias, 13:32:09 07/10/08 Thu
Hi! I'm from Argentina and reading a book by Julian Barnes for the first time. I started with 'England, England' -was the character of Sir Jack inspired on Sir Alan Sugar?-. Never mind, as my mother tongue is Spanish, I find some difficulties with vocabulary... no to mention acronyms! Would someone be so kind as to say me what "T... N... P!" means?
Thanks! I will keep reading.
All the best,
Matias Casano
Buenos Aires, Argentina
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- challenging to all magicians -- kaleem (na), 18:09:33 07/18/08 Fri
My name is muhammad kaleem ullah khan. My date of birth is 28/2/1946. I am challenging all the magician in this world. is there any one who can break my magic I am a black magicians no one can beat me in this world .no one can break my magic if some one cast spell to me i will reverse his spell to him I am challenging all magicians cast spell to me and my sons i have there sons mateen , mubeen ,moiz and her mother name is salma if some one cast spell to my son I will reverse his spell to him i am challenging to all magician to beat me
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- "Nothing to be Frightened Of" -- Erica Hateley, 20:35:15 03/14/08 Fri
Okay, so due to time-management (or lack thereof) issues, I've only read the first 95 pages, but I'm loving it!
Rather than viewing it as an autobiography--which despite JB's resistance to--was a possibility for me, I think (at least so far) it's more of a literary autobiography. That is, if you're familiar with Barnes's earlier works, there are a number of connections that emerge here and there in "Nothing". Also, it has the added bonus for me of being a meditation on mortality undertaken by a speaker who is at the least Agnostic. As an athiest, I find these issues fascinating, particularly as I view them without the optimism of an Other Force/Presence/Organising Principle at play in the universe.
I'd love to hear what people think of the book, so far, or in completion!
Cheers,
Erica
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- polar bears -- luke kelly, 15:17:53 06/05/08 Thu
In Flaubert's Parrot, Geoffrey Braithwaite suggests that polar bears cannot be tamed. This article suggests that they were tamed in the past: http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=16539&ew_0_a_id=307177
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- FOUND**Julian Barnes signed book -- Tara, 10:22:41 07/26/04 Mon
I bought a paperback version of the book History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters from Half Priced Books on S. Lamar in Austin, TX, well in the book, 4th page, on the title page where it says the title, author, and publishing company, it has a pen line through Julian Barnes, and then a sloppy signature that says, to bin from Julian Barnes, so I looked for a picture of his signature, and sure enough, it matches!!! So did I get a signed copy of a book that HE himself dropped off at HPBooks in Austin??? How interesting NO?
Any Insight? Is it Legit?
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- Nothing to be frightened of -- Theo Veenhof, Almere, Netherlands, 06:56:58 05/15/08 Thu
Dear Mr. Barnes,
On page 50 of "Nothing to be frightened of" you mention a "temperature [that] often rises to 20 degrees". could this possibly be 20 degrees Réaumur, which would equal 25 degrees Celcius? 20 degrees Celsius is a fine temperature for a room, 25 degrees is unpleasantly hot...
I am really enjoying your new book!
Kindest regards,
Theo Veenhof
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- new barnes story published -- bob, 05:28:48 05/12/08 Mon
http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/features/2008/05/19/080519fi_fiction_barnes
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- Nothing to be frightened of -- Tony Sandy, 06:54:42 03/18/08 Tue
I don't think athiests can claim to feel wonder as this is a religious reaction to life - worshipping at the altar of existence. Atheism is dispassionate, nuetral and therefore outside the world of emotion - when it enters it, it becomes by definition spiritual or religious in experience.
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- Soil on Shoes? -- Dr Alastair Ruffell, Queen's University Belfast, 02:26:03 03/30/06 Thu
I read Arthur and George with two intentions. First was to enjoy a good read, as we always do with Julian Barnes. The other was to see how the evidence we often cite in the Edalji case - of Doyle proving his innocence by the mud on his seized shows not matching that of the scene of the last animal mutilation (see Ruffell & McKinley, 2005, Earth Science Reviews, V 69, p235-247). The latter point, forgive me if I missed it, was not in Barne's book. Now I am seeking to test the veracity of this oft-quoted evidence (Murray 'Evidence from the Earth', Mountain Press, 2004). Can anyone help?
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- Arthur & George -- Beverly Fox Martin, 09:01:46 02/04/06 Sat
Thank you, Mr. Barnes, for writing Arthur & George. Your eloquent prose reminded me very much of the tenacious and precise writing of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself. It was very compelling for me to be driven, once again, on a twisting textual journey by such an outstanding word weaver! I was sorry to have the tale come to its inevitable end. I look forward to reading more of your work. Most sincerely, Beverly Martin
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- George and Arthur -- Jasmine Tan (revived), 21:38:34 03/22/08 Sat
I had given up reading for a long bit , given that all I could lay my hands on for a long time was froth .
Reading George and Arthur revived my love for reading , and what real prose constitutes .
However, getting into the website made me a little confused - was Julian Barnes writing under the pen name of Dan Kavanagh prior ?
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- 'People say life is the thing; but I prefer reading'.... -- Bianca, 09:37:05 03/23/07 Fri
I'll be joining the camp of message posters who are writing a dissertation, hoping that you enthusiasts will have an educated nibble at a dangled question...
I am looking at 'Flaubert's Parrot' and the statement it makes on the relationship between literature and the reader. Does it promote empathy, insight and a sense of life's possibilities? Or is it a ghetto for saddos who can't cope with the intimacies and complexities of real life? Although packaged up to sound more academic, naturally. Any resources or ramblings you'd care to supply would be received with rapture...
How do you suppose one would actually be able to angle a conversation with Barnes, short of stalking? Is it worth sampling the delights of Swindon to see him at a literary festival I wonder? Musings on this subject, welcome too.
Many thanks.
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- Oblivion -- Ron Fox (Apprehensive), 02:33:44 03/19/08 Wed
Good morning,
My interest in J.B's work stems from our mutual fear of death.I first heard of J's "condition" some years ago,on R4.It prompted me to buy a book of his short stories,title escapes me,but I've read nothing else by him.I shall be reading "Nothing To Be Afraid Of".I'm catching bits of it on the radio.
What I'm working round to is this, I shall be 61 in a few days time & as a younger man I used to think,"if I live long enough I'll get used to the fact of death & come to terms with it". This doesn't seem to be happening,the only comfort & it's cold,that I am able to take,is that so many people have coped with the event already.
Ron Fox.
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- Anglia or Albion? -- Nina, 07:20:55 03/22/08 Sat
Hi there,
I know the subject has already been addressed by somebody else in the forum but sadly nobody answered. But if anybody knows why the last chapter in Barnes's England, England is called "Anglia" in the Cape-edition but "Albion" in the picador-edition, please let me know.
Thanks!
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- Title -- Ron Fox (Apologetic), 02:43:47 03/19/08 Wed
Sorry, I meant " NOTHING TO BE FRIGHTENED OF " in my previous post.
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- Heard the first extract on Radio 4 -- jerome kiel (Enthusiastically inspired!), 10:23:44 03/18/08 Tue
As a writer and mature OU student, when I heard the first extract today, I recognised some of the brilliantly thought out techniques which we learnt in Creative Writing last year.
This year, although still writing short stories and poetry, I'm doing Humanities, a concoction of Art History, Literature,Philosophy,Religion,Science, Architecture,History and so on. This book, curiously, seems to promise covering some of those subjects for me, but in a wonderfully enjoyable way. I look forward to my own copy when it gets here from Waterstones.com in the next day or so. Yippee!
Until today, I hadn't heard of Mr. Barnes.
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- Death Book -- David Heinaman, 14:04:44 03/04/08 Tue
I'm your age and trained as a scientist and mathematician. I found your comments about Darwinism enlightening, but what if Darwin is wrong? Consider Michael Behe, The Edge of Evolution.
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- new barnes interview -- bob, 14:13:25 03/01/08 Sat
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/03/01/sm_julianbarnes01.xml
interview with barnes about "nothing to be..."
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- Dan Kavanagh and Duffy -- Yelen, 10:36:57 09/11/07 Tue
Are the Duffy books out of print? It's impossible finding a new copy anywhere; this includes Amazon (UK and US) and Barnes and Noble. Or maybe I'm not looking in the right places. I found a copy of the Duffy Omnibus on eBay but it's in rather bad condition and I'd much rather own a new copy. I really want to read the Duffy books!
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- MC&HNY!!! -- Irina, 06:28:39 12/24/07 Mon
Dear friends!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all JB's readers and to our great author and his famaly of course!
Be happy in your countries and read good books!
With the best wishes from Moscow,
Irina.
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- new story in granta -- bob, 12:04:20 12/22/07 Sat
http://www.granta.com/extracts/3162
Marriage Lines
Julian Barnes
The Twin Otter was only half full as they took off from Glasgow: a few islanders returning from the mainland, plus some earlyseason weekenders with hiking boots and rucksacks. For almost an hour they flew just above the shifting brainscape of the clouds. Then they descended, and the jigsaw edges of the island appeared below them.
He had always loved this moment. The neck of headland, the long Atlantic beach of Traigh Eais, the large white bungalow they ritually buzzed, then a slow turn over the little humpy island of Orosay, and a final approach to the flat, sheeny expanse of Traigh Mhor. In summer months, you could usually count on some boisterous mainland voice, keen perhaps to impress a girlfriend, shouting over the propeller noise, ‘Only commercial beach landing in the world!’ But with the years he had grown indulgent even about that. It was part of the folklore of coming here.
They landed hard on the cockle beach, and spray flew up between the wing struts as they raced through shallow puddles. Then the plane slewed side on to the little terminal building, and a minute later they were climbing down the rickety metal steps to the beach. A tractor with a flatbed trailer was standing by to trundle their luggage the dozen yards to a damp concrete slab which served as the carousel. They, their: he knew he must start getting used to the singular pronoun instead. This was going to be the grammar of his life from now on.
To read the rest of Julian Barnes's story, purchase Granta 100 online. Or become one of our valued subscribers.
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- Story of Mats Israelson -- Irina (Dear friends! Dear Mr. Barnes!), 00:05:44 12/14/07 Fri
The first time I met the author while reading his Story of Mats Israelson.
I thought he is Swedish because he told a very beautiful love story happened in Sweden. Then I found out he is English and wrote many other things. I have read almost all of them and I like them very much, but you know The Story of Mats Israelson was like "coup de foudre", love at the first sight, which you can’t forget.
Irina, Moscow.
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- Admiration -- AsyatheGreat, 03:32:20 12/06/07 Thu
Hello, my name is Asya, I come from Ukraine. It's a not-very-small-but-not-very-big country near Russia. I wonder, if Julian Barnes is reading our messages... Hope he visits this site de temps en temps because I really want to express my admiration for this writer. Yet I have read his Metroland and also one short story from his book "Lemon table" "Silence". And I want to say the words the writer probably knows about himeself but YOU ARE JUST GREAT!!!!! I've read Silence in english and Metroland in russian, but I'm going to reread it in english. My teacher of english (also the professor of english literature of the 20th century in the university)and I were analising Silence and I found a lot of things that make this story the great work of postmodernism. I especially liked that frase in the beginning "A young man from a newspaper helped me PASS THE TIME".
Of course you already know that you are great but YOU ARE GREAT!!!!!!!
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- thank you -- sad girl, 02:45:52 12/01/07 Sat
Thank you for your prose! When I have some problems, when I don't know what to do, I read Your books. They are very clever and their language is the best! I think, You are one of the best writers of our time.
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- Good prose -- Pam, 12:30:07 07/01/07 Sun
I've just finished redaing "Love, ect." and keep on wondering where are all the good writers? I find this book so superficial & boring (with some rare good passages) that I had to resist temptation to throw it right away. I love literature but really struggle to lay my hands on some decent British writer. Sorry, if I am too straightforward, but I guess I am entitled to my opinion. The question that haunts me is the following one - "Are the writers deliberately write all sorts of rubbish books to cater to mass market or they just do not see what rubbish they produce?" Why forty plus dissapointed & cynical ladies march along the pages in thier droves? Is that such an exciting character to work on? What's the message behind? On the second thoughts - give me Golsworthy any day. Probably, I'd better stop buying modern writers.
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- Nothing To Be Frightened Of -- Fred, 11:16:32 11/07/07 Wed
Blurb on the blogs is that JB's next book will be a collection of essays and musings on France, philosophy and mortality entitled 'Nothing To Be Frightened Of', published by Jonathan Cape in March 2008. Anyone with more detail on this? I am aware that early internet speculation on new titles is not always accurate.
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- Julian Barnes, a handsome man -- Montse, 03:35:03 11/15/07 Thu
From Spain, a great kiss to Julian Barnes.
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- Arthur and George -- Michael (satisfied), 16:57:55 10/22/07 Mon
At the end of a visit to Paris, I picked up a copy of "Arthur and George" in the airport bookstore - I had never heard of the author, but the cover was appealing, at least when compared to the rest - and read it on the flight to New York.
I was very lucky in my choice - What a wonderful book!
I especially enjoyed the clever and craftful melding of fiction and history. There was never an awkward moment in the writing - unless the final peculiar bit in the Albert Hall...although that was as memorable as the rest.
I intend to read more books by this gifted author.
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- Obtaining translations -- Daniel (hopeful), 05:15:02 06/17/07 Sun
Hello everyone,
It's great that Julian Barnes' website provides a list of known translations of his work into other languages, but I need a little help in how to get hold of copies.
I see that 'History Of The World...' has been translated into Czech and I'd like to buy a copy for my girlfriend. I've been to the website of the publisher of the translation, but I'm afraid my Czech has barely got off the ground, so I'm not able to learn much there.
Has anyone any experience of obtaining foreign translations that might help me?
Many thanks
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- translations -- Viera Seligova, 07:00:33 08/01/07 Wed
Hello,
if your girlfriend is Czech, she should have no problem reading a Slovak translation. Here is a webpage where you can order some of Barnes' books translated into Slovak. They even have one translated into Czech {Flaubert's parrot}. Unfortunately they don't have History of the World..Good luck :-}
Viera
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- Video Footage of Barnes Appearance -- Erica, 01:33:06 07/24/07 Tue
There is a multi-part video of JB on "YouTube"; the first part can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nO7tRPjPkc
(That is, if the link works).
Cheers,
Erica
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- arthur & george -- michael, 13:00:29 07/21/07 Sat
just finished Arthur & George... i was torn between 2 desires - to read it overnight or to stretch it over several days of reading pleasure, and the latter won. I could not sleep for a few nights because george's case was bothering me so much.
Dear Julian, thank you very much for this book - i do not remember another one I've read in the past few years that took over my imagination so completely, and got me so fully immersed in the story told.
waiting for more of your creations,
michael
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- A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters -- Gillian, 04:41:39 09/02/06 Sat
My Upper-Sixth form has enjoyed reading this. Yesterday we were discussing Chapter 10 and the question arose as to why Hitler was the arch "bad guy" who was observed from behind bushes. Why not Stalin or Mao who both had similar atrocities committed in their names?
Has anyone any ideas?
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- before i meet her? -- Ann, 13:16:11 04/25/07 Wed
HI there... i have to write a report or something like that of one of the books of julian barnes. i read this one... before i met her (i think that's the tittle in english) it was such a great book and i really liked it but now i don't know how to focus my work.. it is such a big work to do and i don't know which aspects would be better to write about. i thought about the social topics in the novel and characters or maybe the different chracteristics of the character while the novel develops or the degeneration on one's self... i don't know... perhaps you could give me some information or website with information about it. tHATNK YOU VERY MUCH.
another thing... which novel do you consider his best one?? i mean i liked this one a lot so now i think i'll buy another one by barnes which one would you recommend me?? ;)
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- metroland- thesis -- ed, 02:03:45 05/07/07 Mon
hello everybody, could someone help me with the theme of my thesis? comparing 'metroland' with it's film adaptation
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- Arthur & George -- Brian Lynch (Puzzled), 07:18:32 05/04/07 Fri
Is it true that J B Partridge,while at Stonyhurst, did not know the difference between the Virgin Birth and the Immaculate Conception of Mary?
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- england england -- monalisa (help please), 14:29:22 03/07/07 Wed
hi everyone,
i'm writing on julian barnes and other narratives which are linked to england and englishness, can you give me your opinion on the subject and tell me more about how it is underlined in barnes' novel thanks for your help
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- The Pedant in the Kitchen -- Isobel, 03:23:42 03/04/07 Sun
So refreshing to read a light, joyful, amusing book which all the same contains Julian Barnes' habitual and personal examination of the subject in hand.
Having been brought up in Berlin in the fifties, where the "occupiers" had to employ the locals to help with the employment effort in the aftermath of the war, I never even set foot in the kitchen which was ruled over by a cook and various servants. When we moved out to Kenya in the sixites, I discovered the joys of being a pedant in the kitchen using recipes from girls' magazines and making "those for whom" sick with mountains of fudge every Sunday when the cook had his day off. Since then I have come a long way and amassed a huge number of cookery books (which I can't cull), both new and old and definitely multi-cultural (we also lived in India, Greece and England) and now I live in a French province where foreign food is just too foreign for the French (even Indian cuisine is prepared without chilli as hot food is looked down upon by my now-compatriots. Actually, this surprises me as when you see the amount of harissa heaped onto a plate of couscous, you know that it would make even an Indonesion's eyeballs explode). A few Christmasses ago, I was given the GREATEST COOKERY BOOK EVER and NOTHING EVER GOES WRONG. It's a magical tool for the pedant but unfortunately for any interested, it's totally unavailable now. It's called Complete Cooking Step-by-Step, is by nobody in particular, but bears the Cordon Bleu label and a foreword by André J. Cointreau. Lucky me and a friend of mine who scoured the world to get the very last copy still knocking about out there.
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- Arthur et George -- Nordon (grateful), 13:37:47 02/23/07 Fri
My name might ring a bell (no pun intended). I would like to know what was at the inception of your book. Carr and I had mentioned the Edalji case but by no means as thoroughly as you treat it. I look upon your study (investigation ? analysis ? novel ? ) as a brilliant sequel. And as far as I can judge admirably translated. Thanks for mentioning Adrian whose guest I was on several occasions. His relationship with his French secretary was very much of the ACD - Wood kind. You and I briefly met in Paris some 20 years ago - about the time when I retired from Sorbonne and all that.
Best regards.
Pierre Nordon
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- say hello to Mr. Barnes -- Moti Cavagnaro (Impressed), 11:08:57 02/23/07 Fri
I just got to know who Mr.Barnes is last December, and I got my son to bring me two books from the States - as it is impossible to find books in English by Julian Barnes in Argentina (don´t know in Spanish). I´ve just finished The Lemon Table and LOVED it, and am about to begin Flaubert´s Parrot. Is Mr. Barnes currently translated into Spanish? Not that I care to read in Spanish if I can do it in English, but I work as a translator for a editing firm in Buenos Aires.
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- Enid Starkie -- Nicole Hager, 16:35:35 01/20/05 Thu
Ryan,
I have a student wanting, and needing, the Enid Starkie article Barnes refers to in writing and discussing Emma's eyes. Would this essay happen to be a part of Starkie's larger work, Flaubert the Master?
Thanks,
Nicole
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- Get rid of religion, but not of spiritual values -- D. R. Khashaba, 10:41:39 01/07/07 Sun
Dear Professor Barnes,
I feel that we have much in common. I believe it is high time for humanity to grow out of religion, but not to abandon spiritual values. Permit me to invite you to have a look at my website and weblog.
http://www.Back-to-Socrates.com
http://khashaba.blogspot.com
You might also find my latest book, Hypatia’s Lover, which has just been published of interest:
http://www.virtualbookworm.com/store/search.php?mode=search&page=1
Best regards.
D. R. Khashaba
Cairo, Egypt
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- Barnes -- Daria, 06:20:26 10/11/05 Tue
Hello everybody,
I'm looking for people who wrote or are going to write dissertations and articles on Barnes's novels and short stories. Hope to get in touch with someone to exchange ideas on his literary output. My icq number is 203094883. Many thanks,
Daria
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- Quotation uncertaintity -- Maxell Harvester, 07:31:00 12/04/06 Mon
I've heard the quote that postmodernism argues for the existence of a "multiplicity of theoretical standpoints". Does anyone know who this can be attributed to?
Thanks
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- JB reviews Therese Raquin dramatic adaptation -- Erica Hateley, 23:18:03 11/27/06 Mon
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1956167,00.html
Cheers,
Erica
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- Lemon Table meta narratives -- Soul On Ice, 08:18:53 11/27/06 Mon
Hi all, im doing a dissertation on Julian Barnes, the Postmodern condition and meta narratives. Im concentraiting mainly on The Lemon Table, however the lack of resources and criticim on this book is worrying! Any one have anythoughts on the book in relation to these themes?
Thanks!
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- Quotation -- Mark Hall, 09:04:53 11/27/06 Mon
Hi
I know this may seem a bit strange, I am writing a 20th American History Essay and believe that Julian Barnes once observed that any foreigner visiting the United States can perform an easy magic trick.
`Buy a newspaper and see your own country disappear.'
Does anyone have any proof that he said this as I would like to use it and think I need both evidence he said it and permission to use it.
Regards
Mark
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- NEW BOOK BY BARNES? -- Viera, 07:49:34 02/08/05 Tue
Does anyone know what is Barnes working (if he is) on now and when is it going to be published?
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- A History of the World in 10 1/2 chapters' -- Anastasia (Help!), 09:07:09 09/05/06 Tue
Hello everybody!
I am from russia, and it is really impossible to find an original English variant of the book here. But i badly need it, really. PLEASE if anybody has an electronic/ scanned version of the book or at least of the second chapter "The Visitors" give me the link, or my e-mail is portwine_777@rambler.ru Iwill be very grateful.
Thanks all =)
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- Reception of books in England and France -- Klaas Roggeman, 01:37:38 08/14/06 Mon
I wonder if there are any known comparisons between the reception/sales of Barnes' books in respectively England and France or any difference in popularity?
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- Arthur & George -- Subhankar Mondal, 01:26:26 08/01/06 Tue
I have just completed reading "Arthur & George" and find it a masterpiece. I've always bore a bizzare scepticism against modern novelists but now that I've read a great modern writer,this shield of cynicism is gradually revealing cracks. The novel is an exquisitely contrued work of literature that must remain a great book till eternity.
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- History of the world.... -- Dan Waltham, 00:57:35 07/28/06 Fri
Hi
I read history of the world in 10.5 chapters a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the book. Unfortunately I read it whilst travelling and left my copy to go to rack and ruin in some backpacker hostel.
Could anyone tell me what the title of the painting is with the men on the raft that is printed in the centre pages?
Thanks
Dan Waltham
Manchester
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- Staring At The Sun -- Marion, 04:20:21 07/12/06 Wed
Please help me! There's been a question bugging me ever since I've read this truly haunting book - Staring At The Sun - someone p l e a s e tell me: WHY IS THE MINK TENACIOUS OF LIFE???
Put me out of my misery, I beg you!
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- no real subject -- Marijana, 14:33:38 06/27/06 Tue
I've read most of Julian Barnes' novels that I was able to find and purchase where I live, and I am absolutely delighted. The fact I love most is that each book of his is something completely different from anything else written. I'd even go so far to say that he is the best writer at present.
All the best,
Marijana
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- Emily & Florence -- Charles Nicol, 12:25:31 05/20/06 Sat
Dear Mr Barnes,
I love your books.
I was wondering if the characters Emily and Florence in the popular television series are named after the cryptogamic ladies in your short story in "Cross Channel"
Charles Nicol
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- Emily & Florence -- Charles Nicol, 12:24:05 05/20/06 Sat
Dear Mr Barnes,
I love your books.
I was wondering if the characters Emily and Florence in the popular television series "Little Britain" are named after the cryptogamic ladies in the your short story in "Cross Channel"
Charles Nicol
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- Vigilance -- Robert, 14:33:57 05/18/06 Thu
Jules,
I know you don't visit this website; much less this board. However, I demand that you right a whole novel based on the characters from your story 'Vigilance'. Thanks.
Robert
ahahahahah. Seriously though. : )
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- Synoptic Paper -- Richard Morris, 11:27:26 06/19/03 Thu
The author Julian Barnes belives ‘A history of the world in 10 ½ chapters’ is a novel, by his definition ‘an extended piece of prose, largely fictional, which is planned and executed as a whole piece.’ By this classification the book could be described as such. Other critics have called it, ’10 Short Stories’ and a work which posses ‘no character who rises above the cipher and no plot worth speaking of’. It is true that most novels will follow trends and themes which re-occur in each chapter, Barnes’ book takes a different stance and each chapter seems for the most part to be separate from those before or after. The only frequent theme and character is the ‘narrator’ (the woodworm) and the theme of separating the clean from the unclean which occurs in both the story of Noah’s arch which was built because God felt the world was too corrupt, the flood therefore was intended to cleanse the world leaving only Noah. This also occurs on the raft, when the clean and unclean or healthy and dying were separated to save food. Beyond this I can find little else to link Barnes work chapter to chapter. What then is Barnes’ reason for this seemingly unstructured ‘novel’ I ask myself. The only answer I can derive is that the unstructured book is supposed to symbolise as a whole man on earth and the random nature by which we live.
I would be as bold to say that this book is an attack on history itself. The humorous title almost mocks history. Furthermore I came across a quote of Barnes’ on the internet, ‘47% is better than 41%’, this pessimistic view on how truthful a source can be reflects Barnes’ whole attitude towards other peoples account’s. In this way we must remember that of the 150 on the raft only 15 survived and 2 told their story, how truthful do you believe those two guilty survivors where? Barnes’ aim as far as I can see with this book is to undermine history as a genre altogether, ‘there are as many types of history as there are ways of writing’ (Barnes).
I gotta get back to real work now but please reply, unfortunately I didn’t get around to the painting but briefly I believe that this picture is attempting to portray, as the source I believe says, mans isolation and will to survive despite the unbeatable forces of the ocean.
Please Respond, Good Luck.
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- Cross Channel -- Virginie, 13:20:25 04/20/06 Thu
I'm a teacher and I'm about to study this great novel with A level students. I'm looking for anything that could help prepare my courses. Many many thanks.
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- History of the world -- George, 05:30:56 04/11/06 Tue
Hey there,
Barnes certainly wrote a "clever" book. It is clearly provocative, thoughtful and searching, but it is also unconventional in form, impartial and unjudgemental. What does Barnes want the reader to think? Is this an insurmountable problem for the litery theorist or is this the exact position that Barnes wants his readers to be in, and if so why?
Any thoughts on this greatly appreaciated!
Thanks George.
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- A&G: why Hickman, the disapearing lady doctor ? -- jan, 07:14:54 04/25/06 Tue
I really enjoyed Arthur & George but am bemused by the several references to the disapearance of the the lady doctor Dr Hickman throughout the book and the lack of resolution to her whereabouts at its conclusion. Does anyone know why Mr Barnes made so many references or what happenned to her
many thanks
Jan
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- Arthur and George -- Chris Roberts, 02:20:34 04/08/06 Sat
Dear Julian,
I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Arthur & George'and I learned much about Arthur Conan Doyle's life as a result. One thing that intrigues me, (and which you do not mention) is why, given his long term associations with Edinburgh, Southsea, London, Hindhead and Sussex, was the small churchyard in Minstead in the New Forest chosen for his burial? There he lies close to the graves of several of my ancestors and I had assumed some connection of his to the place. Did your researches throw up anything to shed light on this?
Regards
Chris Roberts
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- Flaubert's parrot -- Hugo Lewyllie, 12:43:44 04/01/06 Sat
Dear Mister Barnes,
I've just read your novel on Flaubert and his parrot.
Some questions have since bothered my somehow.
First question: Are your really sure that "bear" has the same connotation in English as in French? I myself have some doubts. The English dictionaries explain it's use for a human being as "a pessimist, an ill-mannered person", but none that I have checked states the connotation "person that seaks solitude", which is what Flaubert was referring to and can be found in any good French dictionary.
Secondly: You translate somewhere (page 138, Picador paperback) a excerpt of one of Flaubert's letters, wherein he writes Bouilhet of his plans. "My Flemish novel about the young girl who dies a virgin and a mystic... in a little provincial town, at the bottom of a garden planted with cabbages and "bulrushes"... (highlighted by me). Bulrushes are in French "des joncs", but in the original French correspondance I read "quenouilles". Quenouille means here: fruit trees cut in the form of a "spindle". This surely must be a mistake? Anyway, I haven't heard of "planted" bulrushes...
Yours truly,
Hugo Lewyllie (Belgium, mother tongue: Dutch)
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- Arthur and George -- caroline walker, 07:14:41 02/16/06 Thu
Having just finished reading Arthur and George,(I only got the book yesterday).
I live in the area that this book mentions. firstly I should point out that the Bridgtown mentioned is not spelt with an 'e' as in Bridgetown, small point I know, but folks around here get very 'put out' about that.
However last night it sparked a conversation with my parents, who are in their eighties, and my mother reckons that my grandmother(her mother)was 'in service to that household, somewhere near that time!! so now you have set me about on a mission to find out more!!!!!!!
I enjoyed the book,and will read more of your work.
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- essay -- Natalia, 13:51:11 03/12/06 Sun
Hello, everybody!
I should write an essay on the chapter Parenthesis of Julian Barnes' "History..."
If somebody has any material on this chapter,send it,please, on my e-mail.
Best regards from Ukraine and thank you for your help
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- Desperate Essay Help - Flaubert's Parrot -- Nick, 01:32:09 03/02/06 Thu
I'm stuck on this Flaubert's Parrot Question.
"Explore the Narrative and Linguistic Devices Used By Barnes in this Chapter [Cross Channel] to Bring Out the Themes and Preoccupations of the Novel [Flaubert's Parrot] as a Whole and to Reinforce the Underlying Comic Perspective"
I literally am stuck at where to start, and well finish.
Any help would be superbly appreciated!
Thanks,
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- thesis research -- Babette Foerch, 09:10:08 02/28/06 Tue
Hello everyone.
I am currently writing my M.A. thesis on Julian Barnes. More accurately on "Notions of truth and reality in Flaubert's Parrot, A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters and England, England". I wonder if anyone knows of interviews where Barnes spoke about topics such as the instability of memory and the past and/or the creation and recreation of reality (and hyperreality as defined by Jean Baudrillard and Umberto Eco). Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you and nice day to everyone,
Babette
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- just asking... -- Lea Marie, 19:20:11 02/26/06 Sun
hmm.. just wanna ask if his character/hero in flaubert's parrot a non-fictinal character. thnx folks. :)
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- Arthur and George -- Helen Humphreys, 07:41:03 02/24/06 Fri
Really enjoyed Arthur and George, but sorry to be a bit of an anorak about this but Ingleton is nowhere near the Yorkshire Wolds its in the Yorkshire Dales, so it would be fells and dales not Wolds, also the station was at Thornton which was then 2 miles to Masongill- across the viaduct from Ingleton- the halt at Thornton was demolished about 1970 although I remember it as a child- i am from Ingleton so rather pedantic about these things.I hadn't realised that the stories I heard were in fact true, my family apparently knew Conan Doyle as a visitor to the village and a friend of the local doctor.The only bit that village gossip got wrong was the relationship of the governess at Thornton Vicarage to Conan Doyle.They also believed that the Hound of the Baskervilles was based on the moors above Masongill, its certainly wild enough.
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- Re Verlaine House Camden -- Michael E Corby, 00:39:06 02/24/06 Fri
Heard you on the wireless today.
Am interested in getting involved in this, possibly buying and restoring, with utmost sympathy and commitment, the properties.
Can I have more info please?
Regards
M E Corby
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- Happy Birthday, Mr Barnes! -- Dr Max, 12:30:07 01/19/06 Thu
Happy Birthday, Mr Barnes! With the 250th birthday of one of Europe's most excellent composers coming up in about a week from now, let's not forget the 60th birthday of one of Europe's most excellent writers - today's the day!
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- I love Barnes! -- Lea Marie, 20:06:52 01/08/06 Sun
or maybe braithwaite's flaw? how about flaubert's flaw? or canaria's flaw perhaps? ok, let's call this barnes' flaw... no no no! let's call this flaubert's, braithwaite's and canaria's flaw.
Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes (copyright: 1984)
1984, the year i came to existence and the rest to extinction. the year this novel (anti-novel) came to the market. or did it? or was this only a reprint? who knows? julian barnes sure does. ask him? posthumously? hopefully not..
few years ago, i came across with this novel at my aunt's bookshelf (im the person who would mess ur shelf looking for a nice book to crack). but it honestly didnt have my least attention. i find the cover boring and assumed the whole is as plain as its front.
but things are made to decieve. and to my surprise, this is the only novel who had me up for some nights chuckling my heart out (and some more nights thinking about the novel itself, and the author alongside). and the only prose i find too delightful, indulging and exceptionally witty... so far. no. i am not trying to adulate barnes (or braithwaite?) for such a job well done. im just expressing what is due and what is there to express.
so who might these people be? flaubert? a french novelist. braithwaite? an english anti-novelist. canaria? a filipina wannabe? from the 18 hundreths, to the 19th, to the 20th or 21st perhaps? does it matter? does time really matters? the generation? the war? the abstract? the absolute? the writings? the parrot? the ironies? the flaws? or maybe the philandering?
i've actually looked up the encyclopedia if flaubert really did exist; Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880). i wonder if it is really his picture that is there. a bald, stout french guy who happened to be a 6-foot mere adonis in his early years. but again, does it matter? does looks matter? the height? the built? the color of the eyes? of the hair? of the skin? the prominence of the nose? the contour of the mouth? but why? we were born without any knowledge of how we look and how we have to look. if we find it too frustrating facing the mirror, do we have a choice? we were born the way we are. no matter how good or bad it was, it is and it can be, we were simply born; unknowing, choiceless. but does it matter? does looks really matter? do we have to fixate ourselves to physical aesthetics? especially of a person? sure thing, when one is physically beautiful, he'll have as many women as he like chasing after him, and even men by all means. but when our age progress, do we progress physically? do we expect to look the same on our deathbed half a century after the peak of our youth? "when the mind inside declares itself prematurely old, the flesh do its best to conform"-- braithwaite.
the only real deal in this world is regression, deterioration. it's the boiling pot of everything, of evey detail of our existence. of every struggles, of every foe, of every gray hair that multiplies day and day and of every wrinkle in our face that is much too frustrating than the faec itself.
you may call these hypocritical thinking; yes it is, and no it is not. somehow, we do set requisites and standards for the right person to love -- tall, dark and handsome, pretty, sexy and petite. it's sane enough, isnt it? we dream. and when we do we cross the horizon. we dream of the abstract, the ideal. y not? the dream is the reality of the dreamer. but we're not dreamers (maybe, not always) and reality, unfortunately, always set in and strike us hard. how about the short ones? the ghostly ones? the not-so-handsome-nor-pretty ones? the pudgy ones? the walking sticks? isnt there a bright world ahead of them? do we have to prejudge, judge or adjudge people by the way they look? no, of course not. looks is the shallowest part of the stream. and those who see a person by the way he look, are as shallow as looks itself.
braithwaite's had had me a still-vague picture of flaubert (though he gave himself a cloudless view). i have always wanted to learn french. but maybe, with all these translations and different language versions, learning such is just but a waste of time. (just the way learning english has made me less of a filipina, has made me divert my native tongue from filipino to english. and in a way, made me less of the ordinary and more of the intellectual -- if it makes sense, and if u would agree.) i wanted to have a copy of his vulgar and controversial "madam bovary". (anybody with a good heart pls?) and why it has brought him into legal interrogation. freedom of speech? freedom of expression? did he somehow violate this? funny isnt it? how will one ever violate such freedom? or if that was such then we should omit the term freedom and call it "of speech" and "of expression" instead. well, his novel simply went against the moral law. and yes. during the 18th century, they speak of moral law; of chauvinism, of feminism, of egoism, of sadism. of war, of homosexuality, of syphillis, of philandering.
my client (braithwaite) is an english retired doctor who fed his obsession to his client (flaubert), set all the way from england to rouen, to croisset, to wherever these places be. i honestly am not so sure if he does exist (or if barnes just like flaubert, built his characters) but apparently, he seemed to. i've theorized his own obsession out of the synopsis the encyclopedia had for "madam bovary". did braithwaite, somehow, feel the weight of flaubert's novel? did he, in a way or another, able to relate the story of emma bovary to ellen braithwaite? i honestly felt moved by his pure story. it looked like, "madam bovary" was a prophecy that had befallen unto him. and braithwaite was in search for the prophet who had almost cursed his life, his whole being. i felt a little symphatetic, that's all.
and as for me, i wouldnt have to do anything with "madam bovary". but braithwaite's real-life story and exceptional writing style had interest and at the same time inspired me. i've always wanted to write a novel (a book). i've tried, but that lacked spice. u may call me braithwaite's amateur but i would inclined myself to vera brittain, a realist romanticist (or maybe to miguel de cervantes' don quixote; a mad hopeless romantic). but brittain was just too profound and spontaneous the way i always try to be. i can never be like her. i cant deal with all her "corporeal" and i havent wont, nor submitted, nor made a brilliant, award-winning literary work at 20. i want to be a little of braithwaite's intellectually funny sense.
i have always wanted to meet a lot of people. 1st, shakespeare. i wanted to tell him "how dare u made literature a man and only a man's thing." 2nd, virginia woolf, she reprimanded and counterproved the thought that literature is only a man's thing. 3rd, byron george gordon, he's damn gorgeous. 4th, elizabeth browning. i want to ask her how to be romantically bitter. 5th, abraham lincoln, he knew just what freedom and human rights are. 6th, andres bonifacio, a brave heart. 7th, conrado de quiros, a brave soul, daringly opinionated. 8th, vera brittain, a woman of melancholia, a true woman, a brain. 9th, lualhati baustita. i like her "dekada 70". 10th, the sophists. "dont make things hard for an idiot!" 11th, eisntein. i want to trim his hair, he honeslty and no doubt needs a little grooming. and now lastly, geoffrey braithwaite. i wanted to ask him how to make people come to u time after time, at any rate. seriously, i wanted to tell him, "u'll come out of it."
so is this the life we talk about almost everyday of our unpredictable existence? when u're in ur 20's and u talk about life, do u get criticisms on ur head? at ur breasts? behind ur back? under ur feet? from whom? from the old and experienced ones? yes, for sure. but what do they know about u? what do they know about the billion "other" people living in the same planet as u do? how do they ever know if u exist, if u did exist, or if u'll about to exist? how will u know one if u just take a glimpse on him and fainted with his boisterous look? and apparently, died from his unfunny jokes and dull wit. (but is this all that matters? the looks? the intellect? is this all that makes one happy? no. "to be stupid, to be selfish and to be healthy are the three requirements to be happy -- though if stupidity is lacking, the others are useless"-- flaubert. now, can u tell if u're happy?) do they know about the things u had gone through? do they experienced all the things u had? do they know every detail of what u're going through? do they? did they?
what is life to u may not be life to me, and what is life to me may not be life to u. what is love to me may be lust to u, what is lust to me may be love to u. i may be a riddle to u, i may be a riddle to braithwaite the way he's starting to be a riddle to me. what is orthodoxy to me might be paradoxical to u. what is philandering to me, may be sanity to u. we never know the absolute, we never can tell if there is really such. but what if we can? what difference will it make between knowing, unknowing and wanting to know? if u want to know, will u know? if u dont know, will u want to know? if u know, will u understand?
..........
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- US News and World Report article -- Zaleski, 20:33:37 01/02/06 Mon
Is this the same Julian Barnes who spent time with Maj. Jon Fox in Iraq and wrote an outstanding article for U.S. News and World Report?
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- Love, etc. -- Ni, 01:14:59 12/03/05 Sat
Is there any critics on the book 'Love, etc.'and where could I find it? It is very intersting to read, but it is also necessary to know what others think about it.
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- Help Me Gooch McCracken...You're My Only Hope -- John Smith, 17:44:10 11/28/05 Mon
Gooch, golfers, Tony, etc.,
Where's Mart's new board? I know you've found it if there is one.
John Smith
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- Julian Barnes as a lexicographer -- Heather, 14:26:03 11/24/05 Thu
I'm writing a paper about Julian Barnes with the focus on his time at the OED as a lexicographer. Does anyone have any information about this time that I can use?
The report is due mid-December but I would like to have it finished by the 1st of the month.
Thanks! I appreciate any help you can give me. There isn't much out there about this period of Mr. Barnes's life, that I can find.
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- i'm writing a paper and i don't want to read the novel -- John, 20:50:40 11/03/05 Thu
i'm writing a paper on history of the world, can you tell me the importance of the fish that swim up the urine. and is parentheses the 1/2, or what? any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. if you wil write my paper that would be really really cool.
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- Conference -- Guillaume, 13:13:52 11/01/05 Tue
Hi there!
I haven't read any book of Julian Barnes yet (and I know I'm wrong...), all the more since I study English!
Anyway, while working on Ford Madox Ford's "The Good Soldier", I happened to read a clever article written by Barnes about it, and then I found the recording of the conference he held at La sorbonne in Paris a few years ago that might interest some of you, because he talks about his "Flaubert's Parrot" and answers to a number of questions concerning other matters with humour and spirit.
Here's the link:
www.ercla.paris4.sorbonne.fr
Tell me if you find it useful... or not!!
Guillaume
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- Talking it over & Love etc. -- Anton Segers, 15:12:28 11/01/05 Tue
Hello,
I'm wondering if Talking it over & Love etc. have ever been adapted for the theatre. I know about one production in Belgium (just Talking it over) but has it been done in other countries as well?
It seems very logical, but I do not seem to find a trace of a theatre version anywhere on internet.
Can anyone help me please?
Anton Segers,
Ninove, Belgium
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- hi every body -- escouri, 17:30:37 10/13/05 Thu
hello everybody.
i read an artical of the chunnel vision,but I'm still looking for the tone by which it is written.Please tell me whether it's scartical,humorous or serious.
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- Flaubert's Parrot -- Lies, 11:02:27 10/03/05 Mon
I read 'Flaubert's Parrot' a very long time ago. I seem to remember a quote about animals and crazy people. Something like: "I only attract animals and crazy people". Does anyone have the correct quote? Does anyone have this quote in French (this would be wonderful). Thanks anyway.
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- Writers Conference -- Nancy Gerbault, 18:53:12 10/02/05 Sun
Dear Mr Barnes,
I organize writers conferences in France and I would to have you attend one of my sessions in 2006. This year those participating were: Dorothy Allison, Dan Chaon, Margaret Drabble, Margaret George, Jackie Mitchard and others. Currently, those scheduled for next year are: Chris Abani--Pen/Hemingway award winner, Dan Chaon, Breyten Breytenbach, Margaret Drabble, Jane Hamilton and others.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
All My Best,
Nancy Gerbault
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- Annoying messages -- Barnes, 13:21:28 06/19/03 Thu
RELAX.Eveyone will fail. The majority of information provided here is usefull, but why to people continually write breif hello's and stupid comments, girls especially. Thearetically i'm doing this now, but surley, no one cares and just requires additional help.
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- Writing to Julian Barnes? -- Yelen, 04:11:14 09/12/05 Mon
Hi, I am a huge fan of Mr. Barnes's amazing works and I'd like to write a letter to him. Does anyone know where to address it? Thanks in advance.
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- Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize -- Ryan, 19:07:02 09/08/05 Thu
Congratulations to Julian Barnes, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Arthur & George!
Order a copy online via Amazon.co.uk.
Pre-order the U.S. edition from Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, or BN.com
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- Indian tribe mentioned in 'Parenthesis' -- Franny, 13:12:16 08/24/05 Wed
I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the northwestern Indian tribe Barnes metioned in 'Parenthesis' in History of the World. It's the one that stole things from each other for fun.
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- Where can I get more info about Flaubert's Parrot? -- Yana, 06:05:39 12/17/04 Fri
Please, can you tell me where I can get more information about Barnes's novel Flaubert's Parrot? I need any critique for my thesis. Thank you
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- Barnes's appearance ? -- Lara, 12:12:50 06/02/05 Thu
Any prospective public appearance (TV, lecture...)? Coming to France any soon?
Is there any information about that available?
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- Arthur and George -- Blair Southerden, 14:12:45 07/22/05 Fri
This is my first Julian Barnes novel and I am enjoying it immensely - but for idiosyncratic references to the law which are so wrong. 'A pair of gloves is Going Equipped' says Sgt Upton. Well it is under the Theft Act of 1968 to which the story later refers as the Theft Act, while at the time of this story the governing legislation was the Larceny Act 1861. How can this be? Going Equipped replaced the old offence of 'being found (by night) with face blackened and disguised'. Oh dear, I am showing my age.
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- Arthur & George -- Allen Shelley, 04:09:21 07/17/05 Sun
Enjoying Arthur & George a lot. It is beautifully written & I love the detail & the psychological insight into the life of George in prison. It is my first read of Julian Barnes. Can more practised readers of him recommend his other books? What would be a good follow up to read after this one?
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- Arthur and George -- Gerry Kilduff, 13:16:56 07/05/05 Tue
Reall enjoying this new book so much I have to ration myself to 20 pages a night to make it last.Thank you.
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- CONAN DOYLE INVESTIGATES -- Darryl David, 09:24:34 07/05/05 Tue
Dear Julian Barnes: Having heard your interesting discussion on Monday 4/7 'Start The Week' you may be interested in the following:
In 1971 the Victoria Theatre Stoke on Trent presented 'CONAN DOYLE INVESTIGATES' by Roger Woddis regarding the E-DAL-ji case ( that's how we pronounced it)as it was of local 'Potteries' interest. I played the part of SHAPURJI EDALJI ( VICAR FATHER)[ there were no Asian actors then] and my son George, the lead was played by CHARLES MCKEOWN (Pythonesque actor/writer)and Conan Doyle was played by ALAN DAVID ( late of Dr Who). The premiere was attended by Con-D's daughter (Dame Jean?). My memories fail. The villain was a local man called Royden Sharpe. Also in cast was Carol Drinkwater (Olive Grove author). It was directed by Peter Cheeseman.
The case was familiar to the elderly patrons of the 5 Towns- - they believed the Ansons ran a harsh regime and corruption was rife. It was an interesting play and worth resurrecting perhaps.
PS I thought 'FL's Parrot' one of the greatest books of the last century.
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- Parenthesis -- Cheeseus, 13:40:38 02/12/05 Sat
It's all about that half of a chapter, isn't it?
It's what makes the book complete, I think. Half a chapter - unfinished - it's not history, it's not art, it's not an essay - it's not an account, an indisputable truth shown. It's perhaps the least imaginative of all the chapters - what is there to imagine about love? There is, of course, plenty to imagine about the history of the world - it's all stories, all characters, events - you can't see them, so you need to imagine them - which is where art comes handy. Helps you imagine. And, carried away into fantasies, we forget that love is not a fantasy, and it can't be COMPLETE, a full chapter :)
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- A history of the world in 10 1/2 chapters : Franklin Hughes -- Anne, 10:21:23 06/16/05 Thu
I'm not convinced that he does it out of egotism. I rather think the opposite, i.e. that for once, he is doing it out of altruism, but ironically (as already stated by himself) it returns like a boomerang on his own head. Q.E.D. Anne
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- A History & history -- albertina, 05:20:39 03/26/05 Sat
Hello,
I'm writing my thesis on A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters and I am wondering about the following: Of some chapters I can tell the historical background, for instance, chapter nine: it resembles the true story of an American astronaut, and chapter two refers to a cruise hijacking that actually occurred. But there are some chapters I'm not sure about. For instance Upstream, about filming in the jungle. Does that story, or the history they are trying to film refer to any particular event in the past? Comments on this and other chapter's roots in history are welcome.
greetings from The Netherlands
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- Snarr -- Trisha Snarr Beck, 15:23:55 05/11/05 Wed
Somebody thought they heard Julian Barnes discuss the history of the "Snarrs" in England. Could you tell me if this is so and if so, where I would find the information? Thank you so much, Trisha Snarr Beck
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- Re: New Articles on Flaubert's Parrot -- Yasin, 15:01:49 05/10/05 Tue
Please send me an article on Flaubert's Parrot
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- Seeing the truth and history/past in Flaubert's Parrot -- Whiskas, 03:37:08 04/20/05 Wed
I need help on the topic above.. a.s.a.p.
Any suggestions?
Thanx :)
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- Chapter ten: Flaubert's Parrot -- Liz, 06:13:24 04/19/05 Tue
Hi, this discussion board is pretty useful, thanks!As an A-Level student i am studying Flaubert's Parrot for the exam. I am, very interested in Barnes'writing but at times it is a little hard to get my head around. got a few quations that i am to answer, was wondering if anyone can help me. they are regarding chapter 10 of Flaubert's Parrot 1) What does Braithwaite mean when he says that italics seem to be the readers "favourite mode of utterance" (page 151)
2) What does the list suggest about the realtionship between art and life?
i would be very grateful for any insight into this chapter. Thanks a lot
Liz
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- Franklin Hughes -- Emma, 03:42:03 01/25/05 Tue
Despite inital misgivings,does the Character Franklin Hughes in Barnes' novel History of the world in 10 and a half chapters show himself to be a good man, or is he shallow and vain through and through? I would be greatfull of anyone's opinion.
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- Barnes and God -- Button, 15:56:09 09/13/04 Mon
I was wondering if any one had read anything about Barnes' own beliefs about religion and God etc?
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- barnes on flaubert's parrot (3/5/05 guardian.co.uk) -- bill, 20:15:25 03/06/05 Sun
http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,12084,1429954,00.html
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- Arthur & George -- Ryan, 15:28:37 03/02/05 Wed
Julian Barnes's next novel will be published 7 July 2005 by Jonathan Cape. Please keep visiting the Official Julian Barnes Website for more information:
www.julianbarnes.com/bib/arthur&george.html.
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- Signed Copy of "Flaubert's Parrot" -- AJ Smith, 20:33:45 02/23/05 Wed
Hello,
Does anyone know where I can get a signed copy of this
book?
Thanks
AJ
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- Mein Ericaerection is currently in abeyance -- Rolf Grolsch, 19:46:05 02/17/05 Thu
HEADLINE: A palace coup--but it had to be done
BYLINE: Sarah Bradford
SOURCE: The Sunday Telegraph
DATE: 13 February 2005
[blah blah blah]
The novelist Julian Barnes wrote in 1995 that when he was growing up the Royal Family operated as a moral and domestic exemplar for most of Her Majesty's subjects. "This function", he added, "is currently in abeyance." Indeed, apart from the shining example of the Queen herself, it is. The events of the 1990s destroyed the "ideal family" image of the monarchy that had been so assiduously promoted since the days of Queen Victoria.
That Charles could marry Camilla without expressions of popular outrage is an acknowledgment of this. People no longer expect the Royal Family to behave better than the rest of us; many of the generation under, say, the age of 50 positively welcome the fact. "Good on him" is their reaction. As a pre-emptive strike, Thursday's announcement has another advantage in avoiding the possible threat to the succession had it been left until after the death of the Queen. There will be unresolved problems such as the position of the Church of England in its close relationship with the Crown, but in handling the matter as it has, the monarchy has shown a new sensitivity towards public opinion and a willingness to take action before it is overwhelmed by event. A line has been drawn under the traumatic recent past.
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- the mysterious poet -- gérard van reysel, 01:39:11 07/29/04 Thu
No Morning Dawns
No Night returns
But What We Think Of Thee
who is the author of the poem whose extract can be found in the short story Evermore in Cross Channel ?
Thks
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- what are the points relevant in cross channel ? -- mourad, 10:02:14 12/03/03 Wed
i'd like to know the main ideas contained in cross channel.
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