tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post9188124699581511447..comments2024-03-19T04:14:57.476+00:00Comments on 'Do You Write Under Your Own Name?': Jacques Barzun R.I.P.Martin Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-25458800084912672692012-10-29T15:49:15.012+00:002012-10-29T15:49:15.012+00:00Margot, thanks. Seana, you've made me want to ...Margot, thanks. Seana, you've made me want to read it now!<br />John, I agree. In fact, I bought the first edition shortly before the second one was published - doh! The second is, I think, better, and covers more books.Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-70751490598837308962012-10-28T15:15:18.094+00:002012-10-28T15:15:18.094+00:00To Dr. Evangelicius -
The first edition of COC co...To Dr. Evangelicius -<br /><br />The first edition of COC contained (to me inexplicably) a section on supernatural novels and short stories. I think just as Sayer's first <i>Omnibus of Crime</i> had a section on supernatural fiction Barzun felt he also had to touch on this topic, though he is generally dismissive of any supernatural content when found in a detective novel. It's not a truly critical (or fair) section as he tends to have no tolerance for the fantastic and outre in genre fiction. He does on occasion give in (THE DAFFODIL AFFAIR by Michaal Innes, one of the best supernatural crime novels in the genre, gets high marks astonishingly) but for the most part he has no real love of supernatural fiction which is why I cannot understand why he ever added that section.<br /><br />In the second edition he dropped that section and added several detective and crime fiction books not found in the original COC. The second edition also has a section on True Crime books. I'm not sure there was one in the first COC.<br /><br />I have the second edition and have never felt any reason to buy a copy the first to keep my second edition company. You can decide for yourself.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-29181893870439516452012-10-28T02:51:21.327+00:002012-10-28T02:51:21.327+00:00Can you please explain the benefits of having both...Can you please explain the benefits of having both editions of Catalogue of Crime? Thank you.Keen Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18171491573514489497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-10005699692934528362012-10-28T02:03:41.432+00:002012-10-28T02:03:41.432+00:00I first really became acquainted with Jacques Barz...I first really became acquainted with Jacques Barzun through Adrian McKinty's excellent blog, where he set his fans on to reading <i>From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life 1500 to the Present</i>. I am only a few hundred pages into it--but I'll recommend it all the same. It sounds very weighty, but it is one of those treasure troves that makes one's own life richer, like Rebecca West's <i>Black Lamb and Grey Falcon</i>. As you say, it hardly matters whether you agree with everything these vast minds say--it is enough to toddle along in their footsteps.<br /><br />I think I'll go back and finish From D to D in honor of the great man's passing.seana grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03774794086733027289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-9159308648313666672012-10-28T01:04:10.456+01:002012-10-28T01:04:10.456+01:00Martin - Well said indeed. Barzun will be missed. ...Martin - Well said indeed. Barzun will be missed. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com