 |
| Mary Beard |
On her fascinating TLS blog A Don's Life she tells how at a recent party for her publisher, she consulted an oracle about the 'future of the book [print version]' in the face of the Kindle revolution. Her method was bibliomancy which involves asking a question and then opening a book blindly and selecting a passage at random for the occult answer. Mary practised the Ancient Roman form of this divination, sortes Virgilianae, which uses the text of Virgil as oracle.
Actually, the commonest book to use is the Bible. Now, let's see. I'll ask the question: 'Will Engelbert Humperdink win Eurovision?' I open the Bible randomly and (without looking down down on the page) select Ezekiel Ch 33 verse 32 (I swear I'm not making this up): this reads: 'And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.' Mmm, I think that's a definite No.
And what was the answer to Mary Beard's question, about the future of print books? You'll have to read her blog - click here.
If you fancy trying bibliomancy for yourself, click here.
11 comments:
Sweden will win Madame. I opened a copy of 65 My Life So Far and the first word was Euphoria!
I shall hold you to that prediction JK.
I've just asked Max Hasting's book Editor if Jeremy Hunt will survive Cameron's full confidence in him. Answer is not good. I turned to page 206 and selected this line, "If you had been Defence Secretary, you'd have axed them." Not good.
Love Mary Beard's Roman fortune telling. Random overheard conversation was also used as an oracle!
Your blog should have a Govt. Health warning attached to it saying " Reading this blog may endanger your mental health & believing this blog is even more dangerous for your mental health "
I'd love to have a Govt Health Warning, poppet. Do you think I might get one if I applied to the Culture Secretary and said I was a scion of Murdoch?
"Comment moderation has been enabled. All comments must be approved by the blog author."
Moderation is the last refuge of a Scoundrel "
"Moderation is also the last refuge of those who weren't born yesterday."
Is that really Jonathan King? He's my 2nd favourite sleb after Mary. Bloody Mary and the Virgin Mary?
I think Mary Beards entering into the realm of fortune telling, a quack charlatan pursuit, seriously damaged her credability as a serious historian
In your materialistic dreams, dearie.
Post a Comment