I find the whole idea of footnotes in fiction
rather puzzling - almost an admission of failure on the
authors part.
Ellroy seems the best example. I read all of the LA Quartet
with no knowledge (beyond the most general) of the post war
history of Los Angeles - and loved them. I have since
followed up and become interested in some of that history,
through the much praised City of Crystal in part.
I don't think that this knowledge added anything to my
enjoyment of the books. In fact, in that most hardboiled
fiction is North American, a lot of references go flying
right over my poor British head. I think that Ellroy has
written about his own childhood rather than an historical
period. I also, by-the-by, think that the political
implications of his work are to the far left (anarchist
rather than socialist), but love his work despite his dopey
"white knight of the far right" persona.
I have not read the Flashman books. I understand how certain
novels/cannons become dense and self contained enough to
justify readers guides - Lord of the Rings, Gormenghast,
Holmes, etc. But if any author is losing the "impact" of his
work through the lack of em then he is not doing his job -
some things are universal and clubs/music/street names
shouldn't carry such weight that lack of knowledge of them
should have such an effect. To take a stupid example, if in
200 years time someone reads that James Bond drives an Aston
Martin I don't think that they will have much trouble in
picturing a rather fast and flash car.
Good writing yes! Glossaries no!
Col
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