tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526736757651414061.post3090827028977088368..comments2024-03-29T00:28:38.155+00:00Comments on Nigeness: Symons's CorvoNigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13314891387515045404noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526736757651414061.post-53366221996713010992020-07-22T22:15:54.173+01:002020-07-22T22:15:54.173+01:00Well thank you Stephen – and on your recommendatio...Well thank you Stephen – and on your recommendation I've ordered Julian S's memoir from Abebooks. I look forward to finding out more about A.J.A. Nigehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13314891387515045404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526736757651414061.post-3190692785292442072020-07-22T19:13:34.623+01:002020-07-22T19:13:34.623+01:00Nige: Thank you for the wonderful reminder of Symo...Nige: Thank you for the wonderful reminder of Symons' wonderful book: I'm now of a mind to revisit it myself. By the way (and you probably already know this), Symons was the brother of Julian Symons (now perhaps best known for his crime fiction, but one of those now-vanished 20th century "men of letters" who wrote on many subjects). Julian (again, as you probably already know) wrote a fine biography of his brother: A.J.A. Symons: His Life and Speculations. I highly recommend it. A. J. A. was quite a character. (Julian's chapter on "The Quest for Corvo" is only 28 pages out of a 284-page book, so this gives you an idea of the ins and outs of A.J.A.'s brief life.) The biography was originally published in 1950, but Oxford University Press republished it as a paperback in 1986 (with a new "Afterword" by Julian), so it shouldn't be hard to track down a copy, if you are so inclined.<br /><br />Thank you again for the delightful reminder of Symons (and "the Baron").Stephen Pentzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14882220887712092005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526736757651414061.post-1969991578169667902020-07-22T11:31:02.154+01:002020-07-22T11:31:02.154+01:00Yes indeed, Rolfe couldn't stop himself coinin...Yes indeed, Rolfe couldn't stop himself coining new words, usually from the Greek or Latin. I don't think they've ever been catalogued (PhD project for someone?). He's been described as a 'wine merchant of prose', which is rather apt. <br />'Fusidowl' does make a good oath...<br />Nigehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13314891387515045404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526736757651414061.post-17848724399495344942020-07-21T21:45:56.911+01:002020-07-21T21:45:56.911+01:00I believe he coined the memorable term "fusid...I believe he coined the memorable term "fusidowl," which I mutter under my breath when severely provoked. From Corvo's "An Ossuary of the North Lagoon":<br /><br />"He belonged to that class of men which I (following Aristotle) call the Fusidowls, the Born Slaves, creatures absolutely incapable of performing a noble (i.e., a free) act themselves or conniving at such performance on the part of others."<br /><br />My guess it that is comes from <i>physis,</i> nature, and <i>doulos,</i> slave.Foosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02200694434095248343noreply@blogger.com