Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Epic Tales From The Nightstand

I have begun reading and thoroughly enjoying the French novel Lieutenant-Colonel de Maumort, written by Roger Martin du Gard, and brilliantly translated by Luc Brebion and Timothy Crouse.

Du Gard's imagery is strong and compelling, frequently stunning in its beauty, and worthy of savoring slowly on the tongue like a fine truffle. Reading Maumort I am reminded again and again of the luminous writing of one of my favorite novelists, Mark Helprin, particulary the majestic A Soldier of the Great War, and Memoir From Antproof Case.

Reviews of Lieutenant-Colonel de Maumort well worth contrasting are found here, here, and here.

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