Words and Stories. Palavras e Histórias.
These three excerpts convey beautifully the magnetism that authentic kingship has for those people who have not succumbed to the "special disease of democracy", that "stunted and envious sort of mind which hates all superiority". From The Adventures of Sinuhe, an ancient Egyptian text:I found His Majesty on the great throne, on a podium of … Continue lendo [Literary passages] In the presence of the King
In this passage from C. S. Lewis's The Magician's Nephew, two children are transported by magic to a deserted ancient city in another world. Here, they inadvertently wake up a sleeping queen, who tells them the history the place. Notice how C. S. Lewis uses this scene to reveal that the queen has the defining … Continue lendo [Literary passage] A tyrant in fantasy
These reflections on the principles of art are not at all meant to be exhaustive. They are merely notes to a screenwriter acquaintance — which I thought I'd share with a wider audience — intended to spark interest in a deeper view of storytelling. Dear —, I believe some measure of ugliness is necessary to … Continue lendo [Opinion] Why stories should be beautiful
This folk tale from Bulgaria was — in its Portuguese version, taken from an old encyclopedia of folk tales — the most read of all stories on my blog in 2021. I've translated it now, so that English speakers too can be touched by it. Tuck felt very weary. His poor and penurious existence weighed … Continue lendo [Legend from Bulgaria] The Well
“I no longer write the articles I love writing”, a screenwriter acquaintance confided to me last week. “There’s no money in them.” But is “no money” a good reason to stop writing what we love? This depends of course on how much time and energy we have left after we complete those jobs that do … Continue lendo [Opinion] Should we write for love — or for money?
Writers must make a constant effort to find the best verbs to convey action. It's what Anthony Buckeridge does in the Jennings books. When reading the passages below, notice how vivid the verbs are, how easy it is to visualize the action. Setup: alone in the boarding school classroom, the boys Jennings and Darbishire decide … Continue lendo [Writing tips] Choosing verbs and creating humour
To many of us, the name of H. C. Andersen evokes world-famous tales like The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, The Brave Tin Soldier, The Wild Swans, The Little Match-Seller. But Andersen wrote a wealth of lesser-known stories that are just as full of beauty and meaning as his more celebrated tales. This is one … Continue lendo [Andersen’s lesser-known tales] In the Uttermost Parts of the Sea
This is not really a literary analysis. It's just a gush of enthusiasm for one of R. L. Stevenson's jewels — a two-word jewel that has been sitting under my nose for years, but which I only really saw this morning. In the silence of a countryside morning, a woodpecker is pecking away at one … Continue lendo [Literary analysis] A felicitous phrase
I'll start this with a disclaimer: I do not recommend the novel The Thorn Birds. It's too long; it's not properly researched as regards the Australian landscapes where it's set; and the worst, it's a schizophrenic story. The author apparently didn't make up her mind about whether she wanted to defend the thesis that "love … Continue lendo [Literary passage] Prayer from The Thorn Birds
Over 80 years ago, an American scholar and author called Henry Thomas wrote a whole book chapter of advice on how to be a good conversationalist. Mankind hasn't changed in these 80 years, and every word of Thomas' advice still holds true today. Not only that, but some of it is particularly suited to the … Continue lendo [Book excerpt] The Art of Conversation
Beatriz Becker 