Yugh! There's sauce all over our post

The TLS post today smells like the trash of a Texas roadhouse and looks like the mouth of a ninety-a-day Marlboro man.

The cleaners are hard at work in the mail room and the publicity department of Macmillan publishers is in as bad odour with the post-sorters as we are.

It is not unknown for new books to arrive with attractions attached - pink nail files for the latest teenage vampire horror and other stuff of that ilk. But a bottle of Bar B Q sauce is a new low, especially when the bottle is now broken and its contents are  strewn over our German novels, Greek commentaries and scholarly histories of China.

I am tempted to mention the novel in question, written by the doubtless blamless owner of an American restaurant. But this might only encourage future sauce attacks on our more deserving fiction titles. So I won't.

Comments

[Clayton Burns]

Sir Peter Stothard is beyond reproach in his brilliant blog entries. There is no question at all that he is the most intelligent blog manager in Bookland. What a refreshing change from the programmatic mediocrity of Paper Cuts at The New York Times Book Review. In line with your powerful letter this week on Pushkin, I here present my analysis of sound symbolism in "Ode to a Nightingale:"

I am considering preparing an article for The New Yorker on the
abstract representation of nightingale song in "Ode to a Nightingale."

Paraphonic contrast seems to be the key organizing principle in the poem in that "some melodious plot" echoes "some dull opiate" with chiasmus of the consonants of "dull," but with contrast in meaning; "shadows numberless" anticipates "Singest of summer in full-throated ease" given the sound correspondences of "numberless" and "summer," for example.

Although work has been done on external paraphonics, echoes in sound between "Ode" and "Hamlet," for one, the full nature of that system does not seem to have been explored for "dull," "Lethe-," and "ease," as linked to the ghost in "Hamlet," and for the cluster of "stream," "deep," "dream," and "sleep" as evoking not only the initial "trees," "ease," and "beechen green," but also the words of Hamlet's soliloquies.

The proleptic line "Singest of summer in full-throated ease" is oddly recapitulated by "The murmurous haunt of flies on summer eves," another anticipatory line, but with quite different atmospherics ("murmurous" itself doubles and reverses the syllables of "summer"). The sexual image of the musk-rose leading into "summer eves" stimulates "easeful Death," reversing "full-throated ease."

The most striking synthesis of the ode is in "forlorn," compounded of "born for death, immortal Bird," switching "born" and "for" and lighting upon the final consonant of "immortal." Naturally, the bird's forlorn anthem is implicit in "Flora and the country-green."

What seems to me to have eluded critics of "Ode to a Nightingale" is that Keats was so unlike Clare with his concrete representation
of bird song in "The Progress of Rhyme." Instead, Keats consciously chose non-concrete representation. In "stream," "deep," "dream," and "sleep" chiasmus interlocks with vowel gradation ("bell," "sleep") and with the strongest linkage to "Paradise Lost" IX, consonant gradation on /f/ and /v/: "Forlorn," "plaintive," "fades," "vision," "Fled" (these consonants are expressive of the taint of mortality for Adam and Eve).

The dreamlike employment of /dr/ and /rd/ at the beginning ("drowsy," "drunk," "drains," "-wards," "Dryad," "draught," "drink," "pards," "retards" and at the end ("Bird," "heard," "word," "dream") is intensely melodic as an undercurrent to "Forlorn."

My idea is that the sound system of "Ode to a Nightingale" has not been elucidated in its nature as a freeform and inspired depiction of nightingale song as Keats heard it. Clayton Burns Ph.D. Vancouver Canada.

[Politian]

Dr. Clayton Burns is without doubt the most obsequious blog commenter Sir Peter has ever encountered, and it might come as a mild disappointment that his posts will have no effect on his attempts to publish an analysis of Keats in the New Yorker. Seriously -- what is this piffle? As a patron, Peter Stothard may be no Lord Chesterfield; but you, Sir, are no Dr. Johnson. Stick to the hacky-sacking in the park, me old china -- you'll find more profit in it. The TLS has enough sauce all over its post as it is, thanks.

[Clayton Burns]

Time is pressing on, "POLITIAN." I cannot spend much of it on your post. If you had bothered to do the minimum of research, you would have found that I do not always agree with the TLS.

Your comments are hateful. They are in the same category as a random assault on the street, or abusive screaming at strangers. If I receive any more of these comments on your part, at this site or elsewhere, I will report what you have said as hate speech.

I have no responsibility to take your emotions into account. I do not know you. I do not want to know you.

[Pam Hannigan]

Hello, my name is Pam Hannigan. I am from a small town in Georgia. Reading this colum,I can see that i am in the right place. "In my hometown in Ga, I have had some difficulty on my Fictin book title, Christine Storms Beginnings of a Universal Witch and the green moon. Shortly before my book was to be realesd i was told in walmart by some that my title of my book was disturbing, also I may get banned. I was stared at like i had a disese, or how dare I ! My communty , Elberton Sun on line... put up a opinion box about my book? I do not understand? My dream is to be a series book writer, how do i do this if some are close minded? and wont give my book a chance? if i am not addressing you correctly with your title, I do appolize. "I am from united states" My book is Fiction, dragons, witches, spells, elves , paranormal different worlds,and a precambrian past, universal- cosmic -door ways. I had explained to many in and out around my coumminty that if i change my title? then i have to change my story? and to change my story i would have to throw away my book. I would like you to view my book at publishamerica.com my summary will tell you what my book is about. I do thank you for letting me express my thoughts on my book,
yours truly Author Pam hannigan Christine Storms Beginnings of a Universal Witch and Green Moon AT publishAmerica.com

[Christine Storms Beginnings of a Universal Witch and the green Moon]

Dear Sir Peter, I am not sure if you recieved my 2008 maunscript. I am on face book under Pam Hannigan. WebJam carries my Maunscript and pic s under pamelaberton.. united kingdom.. if you didnt get it ..let me know.. i make sure.. I am giving you and everyone over there some news about my contract.. I trust you. and really need help.. By submitting your selection you irrevokably authorize PublishAmerica, LLLP, at its sole discretion, to include it in the book at present known as "The Best of PublishAmerica" without compensation for you in any manner at any time, and to include it in any and all promotional activities and/or publications in any form or format7 minutes ago · Comment ·LikeUnlike
Write a comment...RemovePam Hannigan and/or publications in any form or format that benefit the book and/or PublishAmerica, LLLP who reserve the right to refuse or edit for content or size. Standard royalties will be paid to charity.Thank you,
--PublishAmerica Bookstore8 minutes ago · Comment ·LikeUnlike
Write a comment...RemovePam Hannigan Waiting on breakdown??... Neversent or DONATE ONE my books across seas or in states.. First plates in Oct, phone call Fr 1:55... proof(Can be?? biggiest newstory of all time ... book cover approved... proof..certain people benifit... poof.. press release??proof.. I give to Sept5 if not recievied breakdown- pay- formy w...ork- WILL paste to Friends in every state- overSeas-copy- contract- breakdown-numbercounts-paycheckSee More
27 minutes ago · Comment ·LikeUnlike
Write a comment...RemovePam Hannigan Anyone is free to paste this to my publishers.. I am someone that has nothing else to lose. I give permission to newspapers to use this page to send and use as they see fit.. Pam41 minutes ago · Comment ·LikeUnlike
Write a comment...RemovePam Hannigan Dear published author:Congratulations. You are in J.K. Rowling's league...They made it, and so did you....The same bookstore that sells these celebrity books has also direct access to yours, at their fingertips. In their database, their ordering system, your book sits side by side with Gone With The Wind ....You are truly a published author.about an hour ago · Comment ·LikeUnlike
Write a comment...RemovePam Hannigan Friends, I been geeting a lot of Questions-emails-messeges. first question Is the Beverly hillbillys my Elkwoods in my book? I am answering now that I don't belive my communty and production companys or my publisher(publishamerica) would STEAL my work. 2nd quest.. Yes my pics of Elkwoods etc. was drawn last five years .. I have proof and copies all over web.20 hours ago · Comment ·LikeUnlike
Write a comment...RemovePam Hannigan I also have 6 other address on floppy disk with cover letters my maunscript , index, scenes, chapter headins ect.. sent out in 2006 . alot was sent to Ny- califorina.. Again I DONT BELIEVE ELBERTON THEATER- PRODUCTION COMPANYS MY PUBLISH COMPANY WOULD STEAL my hillbillies from my book(Elkwoods town) Pam20 hours ago · Comment ·LikeUnlike
Write a comment...RemovePam Hannigan I will answer this last question. How do you have proof? My Proof is on Webjam( my Characters, Summary, a scene from each chapter in my book.(written in 2008-book script posted webjam 2009) sent to bethgross bard prod.5168 otis ave tarzan ca 91356. -Ariadnepress 4817 tallahasseeave rock village md (2-6-07) dutton chil...drens book inc 345 hudson nyny( I have cover letters - disk signed and saved:-)See More
20 hours ago · Comment ·LikeUnlike
Write a comment...RemovePam Hannigan Hip Hop Press: "HILLBILLY HIGHWAY" Directed/Written by Damon "Coke ...Jul 22, 2010... who hear about a highway in Kentucky that is a Marijuana nirvana. ... WHO: DIRECTOR DAMON "COKE" DANIELS & CAST OF HILLBILLY HIGHWAY ... *Media Alert* Almost Famous Showcase auditions this weekend in Atlanta ...
www.hiphoppress.com/....../hillbilly-highway-directedwritten-by-damon-coke-daniels-produced-by-eddie-griffin.html - CachedSee More
Thank you once again for your vaulbe time.. with great deepest respect.. your friend always Author Pam hannigan Christine Storms Beginnings Of a Universal Witch and the green moon( Hint have my book under amazon- and few others.. never donated one book..

[Pam Hannigan]

Dear Sir Peter, I wanted to give you an update, I recieved my Royality check for 3.99,(three dollars 99 cents) for three months i watched my(searches) title results for my book title. one time it went to 6 million. I am very upset, I am getting lawyers now. I did not sign or cash in the dollar check that says i abide by contract.. Can i get a new publisher now? i am going to fight for my book and its characters. book two almost done, do you have any one that is a publisher that is into my type of book, someone that wont chop up my book , and work with me? please email me on what i can do. i am getting lawyers now. I want to thank you for letting me express my thoughts even though i am in a state that been giving me a hard time, and publishers that stole my book. your friend pam

[Pam Hannigan]

WHAT 10 CENTS for Christine Storms Beginnings of a Universal Witch and the Green Moon???/ @ stormsbook.Net
Hey Friends,I wrote a NEW Series called Christine Stormswood Travel Through Time and Space and Beyond the Ripp. I just wanted you all to know the update, thanks for your time. Pam

[Effects]

Neversent or DONATE ONE my books across seas or in states.. First plates in Oct, phone call Fr 1:55... proof(Can be?? biggiest newstory of all time ... book cover approved... proof..certain people benifit... poof.. press release??proof.. I give to Sept5 if not recievied breakdown- pay- formy w...ork-

[Pam Hannigan]

I am back again with the latest news. I am very Mad!I just found out from a phone call that there would be a book burning of my books in North Georgia around Horseshoe-Bin "Deep in the back woods."I was told a preacher and his followers was going to burn my books."Saying they were written by the Spawn of the Devil! I was also told that they were going to collect enough names to remove my video books from you tube. It is bad enough, I do not get paid for my books! When they have their book burning on one side and their tents with foods on the other side while drinking moonshine, beer, whiskey and homebrew getting drunk while laughing. Is there something wrong with this picture? All i have left is my videos that took many hours of hard work in a hot living room with hot air blowing on me from my fan. Now they want to take my videos away from me too? I am so mad! Everyone in the hills of North Ga that is going to burn my books and remove my videos should put them selves in my shoes. No air-condition! No money to buy clothing!No monety to go on vacations! No trees for shade!A leaky roof! No lawn mower to cut my grass! No offers of HELP!No money to buy new shades or curtains!Have holes in the trailer floors that are getting bigger every day under the tiles! I only wanted to put out a great fiction book with a great fiction storyline. Now people including my family in upstate North Ga are buying my books to burn! "These same people go to church on sundays,drink and etc.. during the week." I am so Mad! I wish i could find the Location of my book burning," Maybe i can somehow stop it AND EXPLAIN THAT IT IS ONLY A FICTION BOOK! I was also told if i put out my book of Christine Stormswood Beginnings of a Universal Witch Travels through Space and Time and Beyond the Ripp it WILL be Stopped! I wanted to give an update,and try to calm down my emotions. Wondering why family and their friends would do this to me? Pam