A couple of lines from
The Radetzky March (1932). Roth is describing the peasant Onufrij straining to write his own name: 'The beads of sweat grew on his low brow like transparent crystal boils. These boils ran, ran down like tears wept by Onufrij's brain.' Nice; but a touch too condescending I feel. I don't think Onufrij's brain is really all that bothered by questions of literacy.
It's some time since I read Joseph Roth's wonderful novel but I would have thought that rather than being condescending it is a beautiful description of someone desperately trying to express themselves in a world which is alien, and unintelligible to them but also dominant
ReplyDeleteYes, that's probably a fairer way of putting it. Though Roth is no Tolstoy, in terms of locating authentic lived-experience amongst the peasants. He does look down on peasant life, as well.
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