'The Wake' Is an Unlikely Hit in an Imaginary Language (2015)
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Re: 'The Wake' Is an Unlikely Hit in an Imaginary Language (2015)
#2Plain text version:
Re: 'The Wake' Is an Unlikely Hit in an Imaginary Language (2015)
#3I actually just picked up 'The Wake' a couple of weeks ago. There is definitely a learning curve to Kingsnorth's "shadow tongue," but once you get the hang of it, it is very immersive and rewarding to read. It really gives you a sense of foreign place and time, as a story set in 1066 should. What surprised me is how effective it is at establishing a perspective from which you can really feel the relationship that these characters have with the world around them. I picked it up because the premise sounded interesting, and was totally blown away with how fun it is to read—I would definitely recommend checking it out.
Re: 'The Wake' Is an Unlikely Hit in an Imaginary Language (2015)
#4I've not heard of this particular novel before, but presume it is about Hereward the Wake[1], which is indeed listed on the Wikipedia page. His story is fascinating and a couple of years ago I read a number of different books about him[2], with half an idea to write something myself. I'm really pleased someone else has written a new work about Hereward.
[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereward_the_Wake
[2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereward_the_Wake_(novel)
Re: 'The Wake' Is an Unlikely Hit in an Imaginary Language (2015)
#5I've not heard of this particular novel before, but presume it is about Hereward the Wake[1], which is indeed listed on the Wikipedia page. His story is fascinating and a couple of years ago I read a number of different books about him[2], with half an idea to write something myself. I'm really pleased someone else has written a new work about Hereward. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereward_the_Wake [2] https:…
From the Wikipedia article you linked: "Man Booker Prize long-listed The Wake (2014) by Paul Kingsnorth is a historical novel written in a shadow version of old English telling the story of another resistance fighter in the fens whose actions are regularly compared to Hereward."
Re: 'The Wake' Is an Unlikely Hit in an Imaginary Language (2015)
#6I've not heard of this particular novel before, but presume it is about Hereward the Wake[1], which is indeed listed on the Wikipedia page. His story is fascinating and a couple of years ago I read a number of different books about him[2], with half an idea to write something myself. I'm really pleased someone else has written a new work about Hereward. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereward_the_Wake [2] https:…
From the Wikipedia article you linked: "Man Booker Prize long-listed The Wake (2014) by Paul Kingsnorth is a historical novel written in a shadow version of old English telling the story of another resistance fighter in the fens whose actions are regularly compared to Hereward."
Yes, I mentioned that in my comment. I just hadn't come across this one before. My reading around Hereward was prior to its publication (maybe I should have said a few, rather than a couple of years ago. Time flies).
Re: 'The Wake' Is an Unlikely Hit in an Imaginary Language (2015)
#7>> Kingsnorth said this is because the words we use to describe our world shape our perception of it.
That's the concept of Linguistic relativity, also known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity
The strong version says that language determines thought and that linguistic categories limit and determine cognitive categories.
The weak version says that linguistic categories and usage only influence thought and decisions.
Re: 'The Wake' Is an Unlikely Hit in an Imaginary Language (2015)
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
From the Wikipedia article you linked: "Man Booker Prize long-listed The Wake (2014) by Paul Kingsnorth is a historical novel written in a shadow version of old English telling the story of another resistance fighter in the fens whose actions are regularly compared to Hereward."
Yes, I mentioned that in my comment. I just hadn't come across this one before. My reading around Hereward was prior to its publication (maybe I should have said a few, rather than a couple of years ago. Time flies).
I’ve read The Wake, and it’s really not accurate to say it’s “about” Hereward. Hereward doesn’t really figure into its story at all, except as an offstage personage we hear about occasionally when his actions are compared to those of the protagonist, Buccmaster of Holland.
The Wake isn’t a lightly fictionalized biography of an historical figure. It’s something much richer and more imaginative than that. If you’re interested in the period, I would definitely recommend it.
Re: 'The Wake' Is an Unlikely Hit in an Imaginary Language (2015)
#9Aleksander Gołubiew wrote historic novels in Polish "archaized" in similar manner. I especially like his "Bolesław Chrobry" series, also set in 10th-11th century, but in Poland. Sadly it wasn't translated to English, it's a very interesting book. Kinda like Game of Thrones but higher percentage of real history and no fantasy elements (other than people believing in folklore).
It's very funny experience to read it, at first you struggle, then you stop noticing it. Reading the third book you catch yourself using the more useful words when you think.
Re: 'The Wake' Is an Unlikely Hit in an Imaginary Language (2015)
#10This book is really pleasant and would definitely recommend. It is emotionally taxing at times but packed with wild imagery/poetry.