The Peaceful Literary Theorists

Whenever new persons arrive here in the antechamber of my library, they are questioned by a member of staff:

What is your opinion on literature?

How do you define literature?

Are some sorts of writings sometimes more important than works of literature? 

When does literature become important?

Are you a critic or a crank, or perhaps even both?

It may be intimidating for you to be asked such questions, especially if you are one of the more bewildered visitors here.  You may only want to see our catalogue of literary works abd browse the shelves.  You may consider yourself to be a literary historian or some other type of researcher seeking valuable and unique sources of information.

There are many quiet corners in which to relax with a book here.  You may also go into the rose garden nearby, if you wish, at least if the weather is suitable.  Many of the more sensitive visitors find the little rooms on the sides of the library to be greatly beneficial to them, as do the more serious students we greet here on a daily basis.

We especially hope you find the seating here to be comfortable.  Is there enough light and enlightenment for you?  The chief librarian will assist if you are having difficulty finding your way around, except after dark.

There are usually several volunteers on hand to help you at all hours of the day or night if you have any questions or comment.  We are always delighted to receive guidance on how we may improve our services.

You may have visited an enlightened library elsewhere if you are a literary critic or a translator.  We are also keen to hear from all sorts of conservators and preservers of documents, as well as cognitive linguists and other theorists.

There are many lovely book lovers and quite ordinary readers here, as well as some illustrious illustrators.  We especially appreciate the presence of worthy publishers and any authors who may enlighten humanity.

As the owner of this library, I am most grateful for your presence here today, dear peaceful literary theorist.  My book collections cover a vast array of topics, some of which may not be of literary merit from your own perspective.

Who are the literary theorists you admire the most, and which do you admire the least?  Who has guided your own opinions on what constitutes excellent literature?

The Illustrious Illustrators

Some books are greatly improved by the addition of illustrations whilst others are marred by their presence.  Poor illustrations are somewhat like many filmed version of wonderful works of literature, as they either leave little room for the healthy development of imagination, or they spoil the originally intended meaning of a book.

Example of a table?

Illustrious illustrators are often either the authors themselves or they work closely with the authors, or at least with the author's words.  Just as a good film is often no more than a limited illustration of a book, so the pictures in books should compliment and complement the words rather than dominate or change them.  The same can, perhaps, also be said for the reverse.

There are many types of illustrations, of course, including technical drawings, maps, graphs, tables, photographs, woodcuts and illuminations.  There are also many picture books, artist's books, comic books, graphic books, and various other uses of graphic design.

You may believe that the use of illustrations can improve the quality of education, where mere words can sometimes confuse.  Who do you believe to be the illustrious illustrators whose works should appear in an enlightened library?

The Little Rooms for Intensively Sensitive Reading

The grandeur of a large library can sometime intimidate the reader who prefers more intimate surroundings.  For this reason, a few little rooms for intensively sensitive reading are necessary annexes to any enlightened library.

Libraries are about people even more than they are about books.  Libraries are spaces where people interact with books, opening their minds to the minds, lives, discoveries and achievements of others.

Perhaps you prefer being in a little room.  Maybe you do not mind where you are as long as you can have some time to yourself with an interesting book.

This enlightened library has many small, ethereal and digital rooms connected to it.  Some of those rooms even have doorways leading to the Duke and Duchess of Wikipedia's large and important library.

Have you found your way around here yet?

The Preservers and Conservators of Documents

Digital copies of the precious documents of earlier times can never adequately replace the works themselves.  It is important to preserve material records as they link us to the life of the past in a scientific way, beyond the limitations of binary numeric forms of record keeping.

The value of the Vienna Dioscorides is beyond price, as are my own handwritten notes, as well as those of other famous composers.

Perhaps you have conserved a book, photograph, painting or manuscript of special value to you.  You may even have taken the trouble to preserve a whole library collection for the benefit of posterity.

If you are a preserver or conservator of documents, welcome to the Enlightened Library.

The Very Serious Students

I always welcome the most serious of students to my literary salon, and to my library.  Most of the world's sensibly serious students are studying at the International Training Centre for the Harmonious Interplay of Beauty, Understanding and Magnificence.  They are usually quietly courteous persons who think before they speak.

If you consider yourself to be a very serious student, I do hope you will enlighten me on the subjects you most enjoy exploring.

The Authors Who May Enlighten Humanity

Who are the authors most worthy of attention within any suitably inclusive library?  How may excellent writings enlighten humanity?  Which writers may most inspire the creation of world peace?  What do great authors write about?

Here are some resources you may wish to peruse:

An introduction to literature

Non-fiction writings

Children's literature

History of literature

Ancient literature

Medieval literature

Modern literature

21st century literature


You may notice, in the right-hand column of this blog-pamphlet, that my enlightened library is frequently visited by a wide range of ethereally and historically important authors.  Perhaps you believe my own modest little publications may enlighten humanity in some way, as may your own writings.

The Lovely Book Lovers

Do you love books?  Is there nothing better, in your view, than sitting undisturbed with a wonderful volume of literature?  Would you like more time to enjoy the literary fruits of a particular writer?  Do you love collecting books rather than reading them?

You may love gardening books.  You may love cookery books, history books, music books, classic novels, works of ancient poetry, the ideas of philosophers, literary non-fiction, works of fantasy, romance, mystery, adventure or comedy.

Do you gain pleasure from turning paper pages?  Do you take books with you when you go on holiday?  Do you have less than enough shelves for your numerous books?  Are you excited every time you enter a library or a second-hand book sale?

You may like to help our Hero.  She is trying to identify the greatest books so far of the 21st century, especially those available to the people of Adelaide.

Perhaps you prefer older works than newer ones.  What sorts of books do you love, and why?

The Cognitive Linguists

Languages, meanings and understandings are frequently flexible, unpredictable and the source of conflict.  A picture may say more than a thousand words to you or it may say nothing at all.

Verbal languages are merely symbolic sounds.  They are open to interpretation, misinterpretation or even possibly beyond comprehension.

Written symbols are pictures.  The letter "p" is a symbol, as are the quotation marks used to separate that particular example of a symbol from the same subsequent ones used in this sentence.

How should the contents and context of a library, or even a web page, be examined?  How should the shared contents and context of a human mind be examined?  Can the contents, context, and meaning of anything be adequately examined and communicated without the use of language?

The Literary Historians

If you have an interest in literary history, you are most welcome to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the Enlightened Library.  Several ethereal literary gentlemen visit here from time to time, as do many literary ladies.

Meet some literary ladies

A knowledge of literary history makes an important contribution to understanding the world, its problems, and its joys.  Without an awareness of the world's literary legacy, is it possible to understand anything at all?

The Antechamber

You may be aware that this is only the antechamber to the Enlightened Library. Activities of the imaginative and intellectual varieties usually occur somewhere amongst the very important volumes within the library itself.

The antechamber is where most of the physical library activities take place, such as the cataloguing.  It is also where readers may request books from other sources.

The volunteers do most of their work here, especially if they are the sort known to chatter too much if permitted to browse the shelves.  The chief librarian has his office nearby, to keep an eye and an ear on things.

The main part of the library is primarily for the benefit of a wide assortment of researchers and readers.  Literary critics and translators visit from time to time, as do some of the more generous of enlightened publishers.

We also hold quite regular open days for the literarily and literally bewildered, many of whom especially appreciate our comfortable seating.  You, dear visitor, may also appreciate the library's wonderfully quiet corners.

The antechamber is not usually the most suitable place to express your opinions, or to relax with a book.  It is often a very busy place, where more volunteers are always required than are usually available.

Do visit the parlour should you wish to say something of literary importance, or even to offer your assistance.  The parlour is where my literary salon is usually held, though my serene salon for creating world peace generally takes place elsewhere, most usually within what was once the withdrawing room.

The main rule for the library itself is the very important request for silence, to ensure its peacefulness.  The anteroom also requires a hushed tone most of the time.  The parlour has some rules of its own, as does the salon for creating world peace.  The music room, at the other end of my little villa, is where you may make a magnificent sound, should you have that ability.

If you are a material personage who lives in or near Adelaide, you may wish to assist with the Enlightened Library in person.  You may do so if you already have considerable experience of volunteering at the State Library of South Australia.  My antechamber and I await you.

The Comfortable Seating

World peace requires that each person has the ability to relax in an informed and pleasant manner, wherever they may be.  Not only are discussions in salons and parlours most likely to be appropriately civilized with the aid of a few comfortable chairs, but so may the mind be enhanced by a well-cushioned posterior.

An enlightened library, and its adjoining quiet garden, should therefore include suitable furniture for easing the buttocks, backs and feet of readers.  Users of the library will, most likely, then feel best able to give their full attention to a publication of suitable merit, even if it is only a small blog-pamphlet such as this one.

The Bewildered Visitors

A library can sometimes be an intimidating and bewildering place, especially for those for whom it is unfamiliar territory.  The Enlightened Library itself may not be particularly enjoyable without a pleasant guided tour or two for an initial visit here.

Tours usually begin elsewhere, amongst friends, acquaintances or even strangers.  Any social setting will do.  How often does the conversation turn to a topic requiring the ability to read?

Have you ever seen a newspaper or looked at a menu?  How do you form opinions and make decisions?

Have you ever found it difficult to talk to someone who does not enjoy reading the same things as you?  What are the usual topics of conversation of people you know who do not enjoy reading any books at all?

The Publishers

An enlightened publisher in the 21st century usually has a commercial interest in literary quality, and a literary interest in commercial quality.  Perhaps this means that there are very few enlightened publishers nowadays.

An enlightened publisher in search of a profit of some description always needs to have at least one enthusiastic and reasonably wealthy customer.  Such a customer would, of course, be somewhat enlightened, too.

Who are the enlightened publishers of today?  Who were the successfully profitable yet enlightened publishers of the past?  And how have you supported their businesses?

Are most enlightened publishers today usually working through not-for-profit entities? If so, are enlightened publications being properly valued by anyone?

The Translators

So many wonderful works of literature, and the minds from which they were produced, are only accessible to us through the efforts of other minds, namely the minds of translators.  The inevitable limits to the languages we understand can only give us a few glimpses into other minds, verbally, audibly, and visually, through written words and oral expression.

We shape our own minds through many experiences in life, including through the artistic use of special forms of written language known as literature.  We also gain wonderful experiences through many other art forms, whose languages cannot easily be translated into words.

Who are the translators whose work has given you access to worlds you may otherwise never have encountered?  Are some of the works of literature you enjoy reading today only accessible to you through the minds of translators you have never thought about before?

The Literary Critics

The most important context of any artistic endeavour is the mind of the perceiver.  In the case of literature, therefore, it is usually the mind of the reader, unless a text is being read aloud to an audience of one or more listeners.

Presumably, you are reading these words yourself.  How do you go about assessing the ideas someone else has written?

Do you consider yourself to be a literary critic?  Are you capable of critical thinking at all?

I prefer to describe and define critical thinking as Mozarty thinking.  What are your opinions on this topic?

How do you define and describe politicians?  Would you consider them, as I do, to be performing artists?

What does it mean to be a literary critic, especially one with a valid point of view?  Do the concepts of biographical fallacy and intentional fallacy have any meaning to you?

How do you know when you may be reading a great piece of literature?

The Readers

I usually find it very easy to tell how well-informed many personage may be, just by the quality of literature in their own libraries.  Many students, and their parents, do not own extensive libraries of their own, however.

If you would like to enjoy the delights of an ethereally pleasant library, you may wish to visit a few.  There are, for example, many appropriately enlightened works in an important and accessible Adelaidean collection:

eBooks@Adelaide.

If you live in Adelaide, or nearby, you may know that you are a part owner of quite a few libraries.  The South Australian Public Library Network may be of assistance to you.  All Australians own an especially important library, namely the National Library of Australia.

Wherever you may be in the world, you may have visited the ethereal salon of the Duke and Duchess of Wikipedia.  They are always very welcoming.  They have kindly allowed me to enjoy their own library on many occasions, as has Mr Gutenberg.  I am also quite a regular browser in the  bookshop of Mr Google, though I rarely visit the large emporium of Lady Amazon.

What are your own reading habits?  Do you make use of enlightened libraries from time to time?  How do you usually define quality literature?  Why are enlightened libraries important?  These are just a few of the questions you may wish to answer in the virtual parlour, dear reader.

The Researchers

The principle purpose of a professorship is that the personage appointed to the position should principally practice the pursuit of research.  At the International Training Centre for the Harmonious Interplay of Beauty, Understanding and Magnificence, this is usually possible because the educational aspects of our endeavours are often confined to the examination of our students' capacities for enlightenment.

You will be aware that our research staff is of a higher calibre than any other educational institution, anywhere in the world.  Professor de Montaigne is probably very well known to you, as are Professor Alighieri  and Professor Erasmus.  Our other ethereal researcher is Professor Coram, who may or may not be so familiar to you, depending on your parentage.

Professor Hero M Pathi is currently the only material personage employed as a researcher with us. She has the challenging task of exploring all of the world's libraries, book shops, blogging endeavours, websites, literary and academic journals, and government reports, in search of quality 21st century literature.

Researching the 21st century Enlightenment is a very difficult pursuit indeed, even with access to my own private library collections.  This is mainly due to the fact that there is little material in any library that may shed light on my own primary topic of interest, namely world peace. If you are able to assist, dear reader, please do advise me of your findings.

The Volunteers

You may be aware that my library receives the assistance of a great many ethereal volunteers.

Here are a few link connections to my opinions on a vast array of subjects, including the topic of enlightened volunteering:


The employment revolution

Musical silver snuff boxes and good economic policies

Vanity unfair

Role over

Nuisances

Know your Candide dates

Bastions and belvederes

Enlightened professors

The lady with shallots


Should you wish to become a material volunteer, do let me know.  There are many opportunities to do so, either in my library or with my opera, or in all sorts of other aspects of my activities.

The Chief Librarian

Monsieur Michel de Montaigne is not only the chief librarian in my library, dear reader, he is also a professor at the International Training Centre for the Harmonious Interplay of Beauty, Understanding and Magnificence.

At present, he is busy working out which volumes are essential for any enlightened home reference library.  You are most welcome to assist him, of course.

Should you wish to know more about how Professor de Montaigne may assist you, here are a few link connections to my own reference works mentioning the esteemed gentleman:

Reference one - Political diaphaneity

Reference two - Non-evanescent employment

Reference three - Ahoy there dear matey

Reference four - Saving the world (yet again)

Reference five - Australian vernacular architecture

Reference six - Mere mortals

Reference seven - An enlightened economy


Professor de Montaigne has also written a few delightful essays of his own.  Have you read any of them?

The Professor's opus is certainly not hopeless

The Catalogue

Many of the volunteers in my library have been busily compiling the catalogue for this very ambitious new project.  If you would like to assist them, dear reader, do please list below any publications you believe should already be contained within my collection.

I am especially looking forward to knowing about the books you most enjoy reading.  I shall then endeavour to ensure those volumes receive the attention they deserve.

For books of musical notation, however, you may wish to visit my music room.

If you have perused my main blog-pamphlet, you will have discovered that I am already quite well acquainted with a wide range of authors and their works.   Perhaps you have some familiarity with a similar literary world.

Here are some link connections with some very important information about the cataloguing of my collections:


My opinions on books about Adelaide

My opinions on South Australian local government elections
(Local governance is something worth considering by all supporters of public - and private - libraries)

I do hope you will now make your way to the parlour for tea and conversation with the other guests.