A few weeks ago, I attended a talk (on Zoom due to the campus closure) given by a colleague's aunt about her recently published book Eloge des vertus minuscules. I haven't read it yet, but from what I gather, it's about the importance of unsung minor characters in literature. The idea was inspired by this accomplished professor's personal life experience with never fitting the mold or being the "best" at anything.
Somewhat unusually, though the book was written in English, it has been published first in French translation, due to the author, Marina Van Zuylen, having contacts in France who happened to mention her work to a French publisher who proved to be interested.
Anyway, a day or so after the talk, I was about to order myself a copy, when I checked my email and found a message from my colleague saying she'd already gotten me a copy and had her aunt sign it for me. This week, I picked it up from my cubby at the university. The inscription says, "For Tanya Tromble, praising your not miniscule baked goods has been one of Sara's topics of conversation! Hoping to meet you! Marina."
5 comments:
How nice! I can't help but read "not minuscule" as an ironic understatement, though.
Yes, it could easily read that way. However, given the context, I think it is meant as high praise this time.
Sounds like praise to me. Minor characters -- an interesting question. I can think of more I responded to from movies than novels -- loved almost anything Joan Cusack played, and they were all minor characters.
To be clear, I wasn't suggesting otherwise, just find that deliberate misreading compelling.
I know. No offense taken.
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