Comments on: What ‘government’ meant – to some Americans (Part II)

By: Martin

Martin — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:18:11 +0000

By the way, I came across a Clive James reference to you over the summer in ‘North Face of Soho’: ‘I think Jonathan Raban, flying back from an assignment abroad, was the first participant ever to re-book his flight so that he would be in time for lunch, but later on a lot of us did the same.’ He is referring to the London literary lunches. It cretainly sounds as though you had a great deal of fun.

By: Jonathan Raban

Jonathan Raban — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:36:32 +0000

Thanks for that link. I do remember wading about halfway through The Octopus, when I was a graduate student, a century or so ago. (Which was long before I first visited the US.) Reading the synopsis of the book on Wikipedia this morning, I’m ashamed to say that I’d clean forgotten Norris’s theme of railroads v. farmers: The Octopus had better go on my future reading list…

By: Martin

Martin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:43:31 +0000

Maybe I was just in a receptive mood, having visited Ellis Island (I was doing ‘research’ for a saga-ish novel I am trying to write), and it’s true that there are several pieces to the article, but I found its basic thesis convincing. I shall order Bad Land forthwith! Martin PS Have you read Frank Norris’s Octopus? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Octopus:_A_California_Story)

By: Jonathan Raban

Jonathan Raban — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:19:22 +0000

Actually “The Unlamented West” was a cut-and-paste job, done by a NYer editor, of serial excerpts from my then-forthcoming book, Bad Land, which is currently available in paperback. The book, I fondly think, is a lot better than the dog’s breakfast of bits and pieces that made up the NYer article–though I’m glad to see it caught your interest.

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:56:19 +0000

You’re right, Jeannette, but it was pure coincidence. I thought of mentioning it but it would have been a distraction from the point of the post. Interesting guy, this Raban.

By: Jeannette

Jeannette — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:24:32 +0000

Martin, I may be mistaken but I think Raban has just had a book published about his experiences living and travelling in the US – I believe it was in yesterday’s Observer book reviews.. Yes, I just looked it up: Driving Home by Jonathan Raban. link here http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/18/jonathan-raban-driving-home-essays
Very timely of you!