Peering through the Dewey Fog

[steepholm]

Somehow I've gone through life thus far without having written a paper on Margaret Mahy, but that's about to change when I give a talk on "The Librarian of Babel"* in Cambridge next month, where I'll be one of four people paying tribute to that most noble of Kiwis. So far the paper remains unwritten, but it has already expanded from its initial Big Bang moment (which sounded very much like: "SQUEEEEE!") and is forming globular galaxies of notes, with names such as Borges, Tycho Brahe and Dewey. A copy of The Catalogue of the Universe (not Mahy's book but the one her book is named after) is waiting for me at the Post Office. From this ferment, I hope, paragraphs and sentences will coagulate in due course, before springing into elliptical orbit around my brain. If you're in Cambridge, why not pop along for a viewing?

By the way, I knew Mahy had a Bristol connection on her father's side, but I've only just discovered that her grandfather grew up in an orphanage here - which, at that date, almost certainly means the Muller Orphanage, in the grounds of which I live. Having never managed to meet Mahy myself, I find this link - tenuous though it be - exceedingly cool.

* I'm trying out the new public link feature in Dropbox - can you please leave a comment if this one doesn't work for you?

Comments

[jadelennox]

did I ever tell you about the time I met Mahy? I went to a children's literature conference in Calgary in the late 90s, and DWJ was supposed to be there, but due to the usual travel jinx + poor health couldn't attend. So I was first in line to get my copy of Changeover signed, and somehow Margaret Mahy and I ended up in this wonderful conversation about how much we were both sad that Diana couldn't be there. It was a lovely chat, which we actually only ended because I -- not she -- noticed the grumpy queue behind me.

[steepholm]

Sounds great - I'm jealous!

[lamentables.livejournal.com]

The link works for me. And the poster tempts. It's the worst time of year for non-work outings, but it tempts...

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I do hope you can see your way to yielding to temptation!

[wolfinthewood.livejournal.com]

When I was a child I knew a couple (they were friends of my parents) who had grown up in Muller's Bristol orphanage. Like Muller himself, they were Open Brethren.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

He seems to have been a particularly indefatigable Victorian. There are five big orphanages, all built by subscription at the top of a hill - an impressive sight!

[diceytillerman.livejournal.com]

in Cambridge next month

I wish it were my Cambridge!

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

They really ought to set up some kind of wormhole between MIT and the Cavendish!

[ethelmay.livejournal.com]

The "in the grounds of which I live" link is forbidden to me -- f-locked, perhaps?

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's right. I hadn't realized I'd not friended you before! It should be okay now.

[ethelmay.livejournal.com]

I feel all warm and fuzzy now :-)