I was very disappionted to find that this was the man behind 'The Darling Buds of May'. I think I picked up this book at the same library sale and Ive been reading it for a few years - it was only very recently that I bothered to look up the author. Its not the show itself I have an issue with - its the fact that I did not believe such utter style would ever promote itself to TV. But there you have it.

Often, I will roll back time and read the older authors. Why? So I can twitterto myself about how very sweet and quaint it is? No dammitt! These writers made us, they created our craft, and with our Goddamn 'Po Mo' attidues we are destroying not only the english language, but all of the artistic principles that created our greats. Because whether your medium is paints and pencils or words and imagery, you are a artist, and that means that you have a RESPONSABILITY. Yeah. Bet you dont like that word do you? But its true. Those who create have a greater responsability in entertainment than any other, as it is our words that cause the mind to flower - we spark areas of the mind and create thought with our imagery. Thought that we cant imagine. So it is our responsability to create it with sensitivity and care, and hence, bloom wonderous flowers instead of weeds.

Bates is perfect proof of this. I find it easy to read even though at times its heavy with the old language. Now, as you might have guessed, I do love the old language, the imagery and delicacy of it, BUT I do find it hard to read. Thomas Moore's 'Utopia' was like driving pins into my own pupils. 'The portable Poe' is still not finished and Ive had it for 5 years. Immersing oneself in this language is vital, as I mentioned, this is what created our craft, and by reading it, we absorb it, were create it, give it a new life. It extends vocabulary, it creates description and design, and it can even change your definitions of words. As you are likely aware, we have changed word definitions many a time over the years, to the point that we now live in a murky soup where anything can mean anything. I strongly recommend getting ahold of something as old as (at least) 'The flying goat' and reading it with a dictionary no older than 1930. Dead set, it will rock your world. You will be simplified and inspired into new directions all at once.

I find not just the delicacy and politeness of the old language appealing - its the settings. In the Flying goat we are up to cars but not by much. Costume and etiquette are quite literally, out of this world. It reeks of familiarity to me, and it will to all old souls.

As with Candida previously, Bates' possesion of the short story is breath takingly admirable. I was pages into my favourite, 'I am not myself' last night before I realized we are not even sure if the main character - narrator - is male or female. We find, in due course, it is male, and, I suppose, looking at the time period, we can be relatively sure there will be no female leads, but my point is that the writing was of such magnitude that you simply did not care or notice. Only once a female lead does appear in the story do you begin to wonder if it is a romantic interest.

(A funny sidenote - 'The flying Goat', thus far, is very male dominated, I suspect due to the time period? Once I am finished I will try to remember to let you know if I ever once found a female lead. To be fair to Bates, there have been very strong female secondary characters. BUT, 'The powerful Owl' was primarily female based. I think throughout the whole book there was one male lead? How the times are a changin....)

I strongly recommend this book as fun, as an extension of vocabulary and as an example of brilliant writing. I garuntee the author's command of the craft will awe you, as I mentioned, base elements are easily forgotten as you fall under this writers spells. Its not just description. Its about great writing. Let it be an example to you.....And for stories about stories, dont forget the Flying Goat itself....Its a classic.

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