David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


31 August 2010

Conceptual Landscape

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As the counting continues, the Independents are courted by the Big Two.
I've told them that these will be the things. I'm not drawing a line in the sand but I'm indicating to you where I think that line in the sand will fall.

Bob Katter
Independent : electorate of Kennedy
Meanwhile, the serious young reader below has put aside
L' AMUSANT in favour of LA POLITIQUE.

"I find this section much funnier", she says.

1890s_La Politique_girl reads newspaper-sRGB_400
detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA