[ilds] A Chronology of the Life and Times of Lawrence Durrell

[James Gifford]

Bruce,

Yes, but when did I say otherwise?  Your comments on alcoholism are new 
(though not new news!), so they're a rather paltry rhetorical strategy, 
and everything Brewster lists that you comment on has been around for 
more than a decade in the biographies and 20 years now in the letters. 
It simply isn't anything we all didn't already know, though it's kind to 
give Brewster the tip of the hat (he's done fine work, and it would be 
nice to see his book circulating more widely).

But, the real query is, are you trying to say that you would prefer to 
pretend Durrell's publishing record with regard to political issues is 
best ignored by readers because he later drank a great deal?  You and I 
both know that's false logic.  There are a great many reasons you could 
disagree with my take on Durrell's politics, and I'd be greatly pleased 
to hear them, especially since they might be right, but the fact that he 
drank too much in 1974 really has nothing to do with it...  It's also 
well-established that his working strategy at that period was to write 
from the very early morning and then drink away the rest of the day -- 
the alcoholism doesn't impact the prose and writing the way it does 
with, say, a Malcolm Lowry or James Joyce, though it's an obvious factor.

But, apart from all that, glasses with a terribly kind mavrodaphne were 
raised this evening in Kalami.  I hope California heard the echo of the 
glasses.

Best,
James

Bruce Redwine wrote:
> James,
> 
> I have not misrepresented what Brewster Chamberlin writes for the year 1974 in Durrell's life.  I don't know what Chamberlin's intentions are, but he records excessive drinking, physical and verbal abuse of a woman, and problems with Miller stemming from the latter.  I would call someone who drinks more than a bottle of wine a day an alcoholic, and I believe medical doctors would too.
> 
> 
> Bruce
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: James Gifford <odos.fanourios at gmail.com>
>> Sent: May 23, 2008 8:02 PM
>> To: ilds at lists.uvic.ca
>> Subject: Re: [ilds] Violence and Disintegration
>> ps: I've consulted the author with regard to your thoughts on the 
>> Chronology and its suggestions around 1974, and he believes you're 
>> reading contrary to his intentions...  Are you now a strong reader 
>> Bruce?  I hope so -- that might lead to some very exciting things.
> 
> 
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