I finally finished reading The Baroque Cycle. I started Neal Stephenson's three volume excuse to ramble about the beginnings of modern science and finance, and anything else that piqued his phant'sy about the time around the turn of the eighteenth century, shortly after I started this log. I predicted that it would be a bit of work then and must say that I was right.
The main central figure, Daniel Waterhouse, is depicted in scenes from the 1660's to the 1710's. There were certainly some enjoyable scenes along the way. Overall the second volume was the most fun. The third one had a little too much unity of time and place going on. If you're going to write a rambling work, then ramble far and wide. The second volume has world spanning maps while the third one only needs to provide a visual geographic reference for London and surrounding environs.
Still, I read this type of thing for the language at least as much as the story. Like the bible, it is usually a pleasure to read except when getting into genealogical histories. I'm sure Neal had to wade through a lot of these in his research and I should be grateful that he exposed us to as little of that as he did.
And even though I just read for pleasure, I have learned some things. I have something of a feel for the main motives of the Puritans and Tories and other religious-political groups of the period. I couldn't hope to recount the histories of shifting alliances and agressions in Europe around that time and know better than to ever seriously inquire. I know to respect the Sun King. Not a slouch. And Peter the Great, jeez, stay out of his way.
I wonder what will stick though. Will I retain anything from this journey of a year and a half? Will I ever be tempted to read any of it again?
Posted to Books at June 30, 2005 2:49 PM