I originally bought this book from a charity stand at our local health centre. I chose it for the quality of the paper and, because it was a long book, I thought it was ideal for altering! What I did not appreciate at the time was by reading it, I was going to be introduced to the world of the professional literary academic conference goer and all their 'sad' little lives.
Small World is a satirical look at the pomposity and egocentric world of professional jet-setting literary academics who spend most of their working lives either delivering their high brow literary criticisms to their peers or being part of the vast audience of conference goers. Their world is indeed small in more ways than one. Attending conferences all over the world, usually meeting up with the same crowd of people at every venue, professional jealousy and marital infidelity are high on the agenda. Small World was shortlisted for the Booker prize in 1984 and serialized for TV by Granada.
I enjoyed reading about Professors Morris Zapp and Phillip Swallow but my favourite character was
Persse McGarrigle MA. University College, Limerick. I painted him in watercolours.
He saw a white, round, freckled face, snub nose, pale blue eyes, and a mop of red curly hair. "I wouldn't say you were handsome, exactly," he murmured, "But I've seen uglier mugs."
Thanks for stopping by and I do hope you will pop over to Art-and-Sole and see all the other book reviews and wonderful artwork.
