2. Evolution in Literature (`Survival of the Fittest')
Years ago, some proselytizing Yehova's Witnesses told me: "The Bible has
to be the word of God, because it has lasted these thousands of years,"
and I said, "Well, there have probably been other books like it and those
have crumbled into dust because they were not so good, they didn't work:
that's evolution."
Now maybe in a poem or a very short story every word and turn can be
deliberately chosen, but I think it's impossible that Melville was fully
in control of Moby Dick, for instance, the felicitous occurrence of
some of the images and storylines
just luck (strength, cash and patience).
Of course there's intuition, necessary guide to a writer, but a big
work like Moby Dick is just too complicated to keep together in one's head.
3. The Critics and Me
My own published literary effort
`In Jullie Tijd'
was not reviewed by any major critic,
unfortunately; just by two provincial hacks who felt they had to prove
their cosmopolitanism by bashing it.
Plans: (What I like best are plans)