I am half way through rereading Augustus, a suberb novel by John Williams, author of the equally brilliant Stoner and Butcher’s Crossing, and noticed this particularly eloquent passage that I had overlooked the first time through. The quote is taken from a fictionalised 12BC letter from the political advisor Gaius Cilnius Maecenas to Titus Livius and pertains to his views on moralists.
It’s a masterly written passage, but I cannot say that I entirely agree with its sentiment. For example, George Orwell, it was famously said, could not blow his nose without moralising on the conditions in the handkerchief industry. However, he was also a revolutionary figure and certainly an exemplar of the the idea that the intellectual should also be a person of action. He could, I’m prepared to accept, be one of the exceptions that proves the rule. Nonetheless, Williams’ work is full of thought provoking sections like this and I would strongly advise any reader to check out his writing. Has anyone here read any of his other novels? I’d love to read your thoughts.
I read Stoner recently and it is a sad, though beautifully written novel that I wold highly recommend.
No, I’ve not read any of his work, though love the period. Sounds like a great author and intelligent, thought provoking work. I’ll keep an eye out for him – thanks for the tip 🙂
Very nice!
It is a superb passage for those it does apply to. Perhaps it does not quite apply to Orwell, but then, sometimes we may need to differentiate between the author and his/her own work. To be a great writer does not automatically absolve one from being a jerk in person.
I think that moralizing is debased and immoral if it comes out of the mouth of someone who doe not walk his/her talk. So I agree with John Williams if he meant knowledge before moralizing. Even more than knowledge, knowledge translated into behavior and action.
In that sense, Orwell was well within his rights to moralize because he lived his beliefs. Unlike many in our political classes and so many others.
Reblogged this on John Oliver Mason.