What a great find and story - I appreciate that one might might read her self-deprecating self-introduction as hardly feminist, but I would point out that many authors (today as well) couch their claims in self-deprecation while wrapping the whole (if they are really good writers) in prose so tight and beautiful and skillfully put that every carefully placed word and turn of phrase is reversing the surface message. When you read it aloud what I heard was a superlative author using convention as a vehicle to display a remarkable talent that, by custom, she was required to deprecate.
Thanks for your comment Kevin! I absolutely agree with you, and I did actually make this very point in the article, though perhaps not clearly enough, so thanks for the clarification!
'It must be put in context of a tradition in which hagiographic writers often stress their own unworthiness to write their saints lives, in order to emphasise the superior saintliness of their subjects. Hugeburc was likely using her sex as a convenient way to present herself with humility. Hugeburc has an unusual and overly complex writing style, which frequently employs rare words and phrases, alliteration and similes'.
Yes, your point was well made - mine just a slightly different angle. My mind went to Nabokov (an absolute bastard in many ways) who also wrote in an unusual and complex style, and his, often surly, use of prose to do two things at once.
As the first English woman writer of a full text, is she a candidate for translation, commentary, and publication? All best and very much enjoying your work.
How interesting! I’ve also been doing some personal research on the Bletchley codebreakers after finding some had connections local to the Yorkshire town I’m from! I assume the codes they had to break were a little more complex than Hugeburc’s, haha
I’ve been thinking a lot about Hugeburc since I left my comment yesterday. She’s really struck a chord with me! She obviously felt the need to obscure her identity but was clever enough to add the coded message with the thought that her authorship would be recognised at some future date. I love that.
What a great find and story - I appreciate that one might might read her self-deprecating self-introduction as hardly feminist, but I would point out that many authors (today as well) couch their claims in self-deprecation while wrapping the whole (if they are really good writers) in prose so tight and beautiful and skillfully put that every carefully placed word and turn of phrase is reversing the surface message. When you read it aloud what I heard was a superlative author using convention as a vehicle to display a remarkable talent that, by custom, she was required to deprecate.
Thanks for your comment Kevin! I absolutely agree with you, and I did actually make this very point in the article, though perhaps not clearly enough, so thanks for the clarification!
'It must be put in context of a tradition in which hagiographic writers often stress their own unworthiness to write their saints lives, in order to emphasise the superior saintliness of their subjects. Hugeburc was likely using her sex as a convenient way to present herself with humility. Hugeburc has an unusual and overly complex writing style, which frequently employs rare words and phrases, alliteration and similes'.
Yes, your point was well made - mine just a slightly different angle. My mind went to Nabokov (an absolute bastard in many ways) who also wrote in an unusual and complex style, and his, often surly, use of prose to do two things at once.
As the first English woman writer of a full text, is she a candidate for translation, commentary, and publication? All best and very much enjoying your work.
Great question, there is a translation of her Life of Willibald here: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/willibald.asp
Well this was timely! I’ve recently been reading a lot about Bletchley Park and the code breakers work there, I found this fascinating. Thank you
How interesting! I’ve also been doing some personal research on the Bletchley codebreakers after finding some had connections local to the Yorkshire town I’m from! I assume the codes they had to break were a little more complex than Hugeburc’s, haha
I’ve been thinking a lot about Hugeburc since I left my comment yesterday. She’s really struck a chord with me! She obviously felt the need to obscure her identity but was clever enough to add the coded message with the thought that her authorship would be recognised at some future date. I love that.
Thanks, very interesting Monday morning tale and enjoyable listening