Thank you — really interesting. Surprising to see how much of what one associates with the 1960s was already in the air enough in the late 20s for Lawrence to mock it, even if without fully understanding it. A slightly horrifying story, but whether because of the attitudes of the characters or the person who invented them is a little hard to tell. Thanks for sharing it!
Agreed that it's incredibly intelligent. Read it with fascination. Am not as sure that I agree about the insightfulness — that is, it reads to me more as an attack, perhaps because he places it so firmly in what are to him the “others” of Americans, including giving them Melville's name! I don't know enough about him to know, but wondered if this had been written before of after his time in Taos? It felt like revenge writing, to me…
I believe it was written in 1927, two years after he left Taos, and he was probably living in either France or Italy. I understand what you mean. It certainly is a very cutting portrayal.
I was almost willing to bet that it was afterwards. Know so little about him that I don't want to make any assumptions. But this felt like an angry, and as you say, cutting response. I loved the language and some of the passages, but I'm not sure that I'd interpret the actions of his characters as sneeringly as he does.
I think that anyone who has had their life in storage knows the feeling of longing for “one's things,” without all of the extra that he puts onto the longing as being merely for them as status symbols or objects of external admiration or so forth. Again not wanting to make any assumptions! But this feels like a story that's taken something someone in his circle used to say and built a whole construct around it.
Lawrence could be quite ruthless. And as somebody whose ‘things’ are currently in storage, I understand that longing to see them again. Sadly, no beautiful antiquities, but some lovely vintage pieces and lots of books. Not status symbols, just an accumulation of a life. Four years this time. And about five years the last time. When they finally come out, hopefully they won’t be going back in again…
I can relate -- I miss my books! Hope that yours come out of storage soon. And thanks for the story, which I am glad to have read, and the fun discussion.
An interesting story, very much in that rather repetitive style Lawrence used sometimes effectively, sometimes too insistently. I wonder why he chose to use Melville for the couple’s name? I can’t see how Melville’s writing relates to the theme or characters.
Thank you Victoria! These new selections of writing you share here are quite fine and stimulating. You are a very perceptive curator of your era(s) - and across so many fields of artistic endeavor.
This gem you've unearthed for us is encouraging me to brush up on my currently hazy Lawrence timeline, especially his time and companions in Taos. I'll be headed there next month so it will be a preparatory pleasure.
As an American I don't take Lawrence's gimlet-eyed take on his Melvilles as anything more than an artist's capture of a "type" with which to convey a world and a point of view. Anyone of us could be skewered brilliantly. But who learns from it? I would say the peripatetic Lawrences themselves are being skewered with a good measure of self deprecation.
I think the "freedom" Lawrence examines here is the one great thing we all squander terribly, no matter how wise we try to be.
Thank you, Mitch. I’m so pleased you’re enjoying them. I felt like we needed a literary accompaniment to the gallery. And thank you so much for the lovely comment. As a non-American, I had also read it as a general criticism of a type. But, I’m going to explore further…
Your insightful reflection on Things captures the essence of Lawrence’s exploration of freedom and disillusionment. The passage, “All one wishes to do is to live a full and beautiful life,” beautifully encapsulates the couple's idealism, which slowly erodes. You provide a thoughtful analysis of their pursuit of beauty, leaving readers to contemplate the fine line between idealism and materialism.
Thank you — really interesting. Surprising to see how much of what one associates with the 1960s was already in the air enough in the late 20s for Lawrence to mock it, even if without fully understanding it. A slightly horrifying story, but whether because of the attitudes of the characters or the person who invented them is a little hard to tell. Thanks for sharing it!
Thank you so much for reading. It is an interesting story, and Lawrence captures their characters brilliantly. And still so relevant today.
Agreed that it's incredibly intelligent. Read it with fascination. Am not as sure that I agree about the insightfulness — that is, it reads to me more as an attack, perhaps because he places it so firmly in what are to him the “others” of Americans, including giving them Melville's name! I don't know enough about him to know, but wondered if this had been written before of after his time in Taos? It felt like revenge writing, to me…
I believe it was written in 1927, two years after he left Taos, and he was probably living in either France or Italy. I understand what you mean. It certainly is a very cutting portrayal.
I was almost willing to bet that it was afterwards. Know so little about him that I don't want to make any assumptions. But this felt like an angry, and as you say, cutting response. I loved the language and some of the passages, but I'm not sure that I'd interpret the actions of his characters as sneeringly as he does.
I think that anyone who has had their life in storage knows the feeling of longing for “one's things,” without all of the extra that he puts onto the longing as being merely for them as status symbols or objects of external admiration or so forth. Again not wanting to make any assumptions! But this feels like a story that's taken something someone in his circle used to say and built a whole construct around it.
Lawrence could be quite ruthless. And as somebody whose ‘things’ are currently in storage, I understand that longing to see them again. Sadly, no beautiful antiquities, but some lovely vintage pieces and lots of books. Not status symbols, just an accumulation of a life. Four years this time. And about five years the last time. When they finally come out, hopefully they won’t be going back in again…
I can relate -- I miss my books! Hope that yours come out of storage soon. And thanks for the story, which I am glad to have read, and the fun discussion.
You’re very welcome. I would love for the comments section to become an open discussion forum.
An interesting story, very much in that rather repetitive style Lawrence used sometimes effectively, sometimes too insistently. I wonder why he chose to use Melville for the couple’s name? I can’t see how Melville’s writing relates to the theme or characters.
Thanks for reading, Lyn. It’s an interesting question, and one I’ll definitely look into 🧡
Thank you Victoria! These new selections of writing you share here are quite fine and stimulating. You are a very perceptive curator of your era(s) - and across so many fields of artistic endeavor.
This gem you've unearthed for us is encouraging me to brush up on my currently hazy Lawrence timeline, especially his time and companions in Taos. I'll be headed there next month so it will be a preparatory pleasure.
As an American I don't take Lawrence's gimlet-eyed take on his Melvilles as anything more than an artist's capture of a "type" with which to convey a world and a point of view. Anyone of us could be skewered brilliantly. But who learns from it? I would say the peripatetic Lawrences themselves are being skewered with a good measure of self deprecation.
I think the "freedom" Lawrence examines here is the one great thing we all squander terribly, no matter how wise we try to be.
Thank you, Mitch. I’m so pleased you’re enjoying them. I felt like we needed a literary accompaniment to the gallery. And thank you so much for the lovely comment. As a non-American, I had also read it as a general criticism of a type. But, I’m going to explore further…
Human nature. Just another path, more glamorous? Maybe. Great this is documented, great you could share it and keep it alive. Wow. Still processing.
Thank you, Susan 🤎
Your insightful reflection on Things captures the essence of Lawrence’s exploration of freedom and disillusionment. The passage, “All one wishes to do is to live a full and beautiful life,” beautifully encapsulates the couple's idealism, which slowly erodes. You provide a thoughtful analysis of their pursuit of beauty, leaving readers to contemplate the fine line between idealism and materialism.
Thank you, Jon :)
Wait, is there a commentary that I've missed?
I enjoyed this rather clever story. Thank you, Victoria
Thank you for reading, Maureen 🩵