LL-L "Literature" 2005.03.30 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 30.MAR.2005 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: Tom Mc Rae <t.mcrae at uq.net.au>
Subject: Philological Fun

Hi,
I am currently reading a book which some of you may enjoy as much as I
am...
"The 2 1/2 Pillars of Wisdom. The Von Igelfeld Trilogy" by Scotsman
Alexander McCall Smith involves Professor Von Igelfeld, a prickly prof
at Regensburg's Institute of Romance Philology and his quixotic
adventures. He hates one colleague who alas keeps getting all the plums
in life even though Von I has written the great classic 'Portuguese
Irregular Verbs' and the rivals do all they can to undo each other's
work. They do unite in fighting University officialdom when it decrees
they must give lectures to undergrads. No German professor should be
treated like this, after all they are not teachers !
Von I wanders like an innocent Parsifal through life, pondering on why
some academics have lovely young female 'research assistants' who seem
ignorant of the subjects involved. Even after colleagues explain such
girls are there merely for 'morale boosting' he remains confused. We
follow him from his own research assistant days studying ancient Irish
obscenities. Back home his landlady finds his translated notes in
German and evicts him for writing such filth !
Invited by an agency to deliver a paper at a conference in Arkansas he
learns in the course of pre talk drinks that he has been confused with
one Dr Igelfold, a world authority on sausage dogs. Even worse one vet
informs him he is dead ! A man of initiative his extempore address is
very well received by vets present but he has yet to have a series of
even more traumatic experiences with daschunds in Europe on his return.
McCall Smith is a master of gently unfolding a tale, his humour is
neither blatant nor boisterous . One reads on and suddenly  finds
oneself yet again in convulsions as yet another crisis comes to
fruition. I recommend this book highly, another of Smith's novels "44
Scotland Street" was written originally in daily installments for "The
Scotsman". Far from philology but good on Edinburgh's New Town
residents and just as gently hilarious.
Regards
Tom Mc Rae
Brisbane Australia
Oh Wad Some Power the Giftie Gie Us
Tae See Oorsel's as Ithers See Us
Robert Burns

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