page 8
daily nebraskan
n
onsieur tor trotting
Monsieur, by Lawrence DureH, Viking
rress, New York, 57.95.
By B21 Roberts
Monsieur, by Lawrence Durrell, is a
book that should be read at a trot. To
gallop through this novel would be to miss
what is has to offer. The stimulating ideas
and - characters and the richly detailed
descriptions of Avignon, Alexandria and
Venice might be blurred.
But the reader who walks too slowly
through the book is likely to be disap
pointed. The ideas and characters stimu
late, not satisfy. They never get up and
breathe, and the effect of Monsieur is final
ly of a travelog, a nicely done tour through
the country of Durrell 's imagination.
Bruce, a cynical middle-aged doctor, is '
the main character, and his life sets a
standard of world-weariness for the others.
He ha3 his memories of a triangular love
affair with Sylvie, now mad, and her
brother, Piers, now dead. Bruce hasn't got
much going for him now, but he gives the
rest of the cast somebody to talk to.
Blasted idealist
Piers is a suicide. His part in the novel,
more symbolic than believable, seems to
stand for blasted idealism. When Bruce
tries to look into Piers's coffin at the
funeral, he is turned away to spare him the
shock of seeing the decapitated body.
Rob Sutcliffe, a horny, burnt-out novel
ist, wanders through Venice in an unfruit
ful search for something new to do and
write about. In his notebooks are things
.such as: 'There is mystery in the fact that
if you repeat something meaningless
long enough it begins slowly to gather
significance and meaning as a needle on the
disc gathers fluff. It becomes a mantram."
Toby is a hard-drinking scholar who is
completing his life's work, a re interpreta
tion of the history of the knights of
Templar. But it looks as if it will turn out
badly. As in Monsieur itself, the trick is not
to take theories, in this case about a re
ligious sect suddenly and violently abol
ished in the 14th century, too seriously.
And there is Akkad, an Egyptian gnostic
Akkad is the well-spring of the ideas that
come bubbling up in the novel. Akkad tells
us "the bitter central truth of the gnostics:
the horrifying realization that the world of
the Good God was a dead one, and that He
had been replaced by a usurper-a God of
Evil." This conqueror is the unseen
Monsieur.
In a flashback Akkad takes Bruce,
Sylvie, Piers and Toby to a tent in the
Sahara, drugs them, and introduces them
to gnosticism while a huge cobra keeps
watch from a wicker basket. The snake
seems to become Monsieur, and the effect
of this scene on each character is the
burden of the novel.
Playing cards
Gnosticism, homosexuality, medieval
history and theology-Durreli plays with
these and other ideas as if they were cards
in a deck. But his best sleight of hand
comes near the end, when the reader
realizes that every character is the product
of some other character's imagination. ,
It's an elaborate trick, maybe a mean
trick. But it accounts for the half-developed
state of the characters and puts responsi
bility for the novel where it lies-in the
author's imagination.
Durrell is 63, and his most acclaimed
work, The Alexandrian Quartet, was
finished in 1960. Like his novelist Rob
Sutcliffe, DurrelTs best work may be
behind him. Monsieur is a pretty good
novel, nothing more.
mnmmummm imiii'MiiiMiiinrimii mi L
By Eli Rhodes
For Sept. 29 through Oct. 4.
.ries. You have strong creative energy
this week, but you must be practical to
use it. Try to remain calm and avoid being
headstrong with others.
Taurus. A little pampering-of yourself
and others-can go a long way this week.
Try to look busy and attentive at work or
class. Let loose in the evening hours.
Gemini. Sidestepping issues may seem
more comfortable to you now, but there
are problems to be solved in your relation
ships. Others will respect your opinions if
you listen to theirs,
Cancer. Your tendency to overindulge
in moodiness could waste the whole week.
No one seems to want to play your way.
Compromise wins more than sulkiness will.
Leo. Certain relationships could be
confusing this week. Youll have to dig
deep to know where you stand. Don't be
too afraid of hurting another's feelings.
Virgo. You'd better keep to yourself
for the next few days. Anger or jealousy
will be strong until next weekend -then
you can start a pleasant new relationship
or deepen an old one.
Libra. Be skeptical of offers or requests
from others this week. Your position isn't
as stable as it seems. Try to maintain
poise.
Scorpio. Stick to tried-and-true
mthrv1 this week. New Jtmnaintan a
AWM.fc -- ------------ '1VV J UJi
situations may appear deceptively pleasant.
Entertain at home, with, close friends.
Sagittarius. Material gain will be yours
this week-probably ia the form of gifts.
Be patient when negotiating with cowork
ers. Worthwhile projects take time.
Capricorn. You may have to struggle
to get a word in edgewise-make sure those
few words count. Don't forget earlier
promises, but don't make any new ones
this week.
Aquarius. Your mood may be critical
and brooding this week. Don't let your
tongue damage valuable relationships.
Work at an easy pace to avoid mistakes.
Pisces. Try to express your true feelings
this week-little affectionate insults could
be taken seriously by others. Alertness in
the home may prevent an accident.
Astrological Outcast is intended for
amusement purposes only.
UD
&
0inniD(nig)
Tttm Notional Cdi iliwtai oa I JkedwtMiy. WMltineion. D C.
ON CAMPUS
Art
Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery- 11th and
R- photographs by Vincent Vallarino
through Oct. 5; English Satirical Prints
through Oct. 5; Ceramic Sculpture and
Pottery by Eric Abraham through Oct.
5; Prints by William Hogarth through
v Oct. 12.
Film
Sheldon Film Theater- 11th and R- Tht
Shadow Catcher and The Exiles- Tues.,
Wed. and Thurs.- 7 pm.; Thief of Baghdad-
Fri. and Sat.- 3, 7, 9 pan.; Claes
Oldenburg- Sun.- 3 pjn.
Concert
Nebraska Union- 14th and R- Big Walter
Horton and Luther Allison- Fri.- 8 p.m.
Kimball Recital Hall- Uth and R- Wind
Ensemble Recital- Sun. 4 pjn.
Off Campus
Art
Hay market Art Gallery- 119 S. 9th- Mid
west Melting Pot Exhibit through Oct.
12.
Theater -Lincoln
Community Playhouse- 2500 S.
56th- Godspelt- Fri. and Sat.- 8 p.m.
Musk
Pershing Auditorium- 15th and N- Jeffer
son Starship- Fri - 8 pjn.
Cathedral of the Risen Christ- 3500 Sheri
dan Blvd. Organ recital by Quentin
Faulkner- 4 pjn.
- RedCtoss;
TTts Goes!
ft . v.,
Absolutely No One Under 18
matinees continuous
from 11a.m.
Donbli Feature!
-RATES X
"TEENAGE
TH9AT"
- ui x-bated m
10YEB 0EL"
www
Doc-"
. Watch
Hollow
Pctts?y,
s . ftsas,'
&srk Tilth
Upper
Level
'Glass' ;
'Menagerie
Union Concerts Committer Pmsnts
w i f
miner aiiison
& Blues Band
Big Walter Horton
Incomwt
Friday October 3, 8 p.m.
Union eeiitennia! Room
Tickoto $2 UNL students (with Id.)
: ' ' $3.50 general pubic :
Available at: Union South Deck
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
HOWELL THEATRE
AN ALL AMERICAN SEASON
1 A?S mam mm
IW5-I976
LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT
BY EUGENE O'NEILL
October 17 a. 20, 2, 22, 23, 24, 25.
THE CRUCIBLE
. BY ARTHUR MILLER
December 5. 6, 3, 9. 10 it, 2, I
BY MOSS HART & CEORCE S. KAUFMAN
February 2, 2d, Math , 2. X 4, 5, 6.
A STOEE TCAR NAMED DESIRE
BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS
'"V" TICKET PRICES '
, ' All 8t RmtvJ "
W 3:09
m Mm.
l(: )
inmsfh Priiay
, , . Dirt Cheap
tern
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