tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post1173901094414823398..comments2024-03-28T10:16:38.716-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Voltaire and Detective FictionLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-37568805042474600882017-09-04T09:03:24.362-04:002017-09-04T09:03:24.362-04:00Leigh, I'd say that actually that the nub of T...Leigh, I'd say that actually that the nub of The Reeve's Tale is very old (there's a lot of switching beds in the 1001 Nights, too), and scholars say that The Merchant's Tale (another fooling the husband story) goes back to 1001 Nights. <br />It's a small world, and a long time, and there are only so many plots, so it's all in the way we tell 'em.Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-66389400483135538572017-09-03T18:37:47.177-04:002017-09-03T18:37:47.177-04:00Eve, my father loved both the Decameron and Schehe...Eve, my father loved both the Decameron and Scheherazade, and I know the Persian princes story is derived from tales like 1001 Nights. However, I can't think of where these appeared in the story-telling Caterbury Tales… but then I was seduced by the Wyf of Bath.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-89850211349856218112017-09-03T15:49:21.512-04:002017-09-03T15:49:21.512-04:00Zadig influenced a lot, but it in turn was influen...Zadig influenced a lot, but it in turn was influenced by the tales from 1001 Nights, which had been translated into French back in 1704. (On the other hand, there are stories in 1001 Nights which also show up in The Canterbury Tales and in the Decameron. I think it just proves that some stories - mostly about tricksters - are very, very old.) Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-77482547197057554562017-09-03T14:08:13.350-04:002017-09-03T14:08:13.350-04:00O'Neil, (sputtering) I think that's Zaftig...O'Neil, (sputtering) I think that's Zaftig.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-21322678977478138492017-09-03T12:43:57.814-04:002017-09-03T12:43:57.814-04:00I thought Zadig was a Woody Allen movie.I thought Zadig was a Woody Allen movie.O'Neil De Nouxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03142721824657611738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-45222826570599790462017-09-03T10:54:34.762-04:002017-09-03T10:54:34.762-04:00Thanks, Art. I'd forgotten much of the story, ...Thanks, Art. I'd forgotten much of the story, remembering only a few things like the prt that drew upon the Arabian Serindip princes story. This time I'm listening to Darvina's audiobook reading above, and find it remarkably easy. I haven't tried twentieth century translations, so being read to bypasses the unfortunately long paragraphs and unusual abbreviations (to modern eyes) derived from early versions. It's one of the reasons why my own writing leans towards visually short paragraphs and chapters.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-80679695130582687622017-09-03T10:13:10.785-04:002017-09-03T10:13:10.785-04:00Thanks for sharing this, Leigh! I've talked ab...Thanks for sharing this, Leigh! I've talked about Zadig in my survey classes on mystery fiction, but I've never assigned it as readings (and honestly have only read excerpts myself, never the full text). Really appreciate seeing this in the spotlight here at SleuthSayers today!Art Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409008167752619352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-871377994349232892017-09-03T09:34:03.878-04:002017-09-03T09:34:03.878-04:00Janice, I enjoy Zadig more than Candide. Voltaire ...Janice, I enjoy Zadig more than Candide. Voltaire is a master of show-not-tell, using numerous devices of literature, logic, and rhetoric to get his point across while entertaining the open-minded.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-18394591460040089872017-09-03T08:31:01.165-04:002017-09-03T08:31:01.165-04:00Interesting stuff! Proving once again there is lit...Interesting stuff! Proving once again there is little really new.janice lawnoreply@blogger.com