ATD 976-999

Revision as of 08:09, 19 February 2007 by Volver (Talk | contribs) (Page 981)

Please keep these annotations SPOILER-FREE by not revealing information from later pages in the novel.


Page 976

Madera revolution
in 1910, out of Mexico, led by Madera. Ramifications felt in El Paso, where a Senate Committee investigated in 1912 and found Standard Oil partly responsible.
Relevant?--a Mormon settlement was investigated as part of the investigation.

Page 977

Majolica
A particular type of white colour glaze for earthenware ceramics that was known for its ability to mimic (poorly) historically expensive porcelain. Its name comes from the practice of importing it into Europe through the ports of the Balearic island Majorca from the Mid-east.

I'm Going..Salome
Stanley Murphy, lyricist, written before 1909.
"I'm going to get myself a black Salome"
Composer: Wynn, Ed 1886-1966 Lyrics: Big Bill Jefferson a railroad man (first line of text) Contributors: Murphy, Stanley 1875-1919 Publication Date: 1908 For voice and piano. Cover ill.: African American man watching a belly dancer. Photo of Ed. Wynn.

Page 978

'Tá bien, no te preocupes, m'hija
Spanish: It's all right, don't trouble yourself, my dear.

Galluses
a pair of suspenders for trousers. "Braces" in British English.

Czolgosz
Leon Frank Czolgosz (January 24, 1873 – October 29, 1901) was the assassin of U.S. President William McKinley. In the last few years of his short life he was heavily influenced by anarchists like Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman. From Wikipedia

President McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. (January 29, 1843 – September 14, 1901) was the 25th President of the United States. from Wikipedia

One thousand Fast Lake Navigation, 158 Fast Express, and 206 Automobile Inverts
Here is a page with images of the stamp. Also, an interesting little online tidbit which references this stamp with the inverted center to which this page refers.

These misprinted ("alternate") stamps, associated with Anarchism, and the philatelically-named Jenny Invert with her similar association to the Anarchist collective at Yz-le-Bans, inevitably call to mind the subtly altered stamps of the anarchist (or at any rate anti-government) Trystero in Lot 49, postage in an alterntive, underground communication system. We have, then, the theme of underground, alternative communication introduced.

Page 979

Hanna's miserable stooge
Mark Hanna (September 24, 1837–February 15, 1904), born Marcus Alonzo Hanna, was an industrialist and Republican politician from Ohio. He rose to fame as the campaign manager of the successful Republican Presidential candidate William McKinley in the U.S. Presidential election of 1896, in what is considered the forerunner of the modern political campaign, and subsequently became one of the most powerful members of the U.S. Senate. From Wikipedia. Obviously, the stooge refers to McKinley.

henriettia
Weave: Twill
Characteristics: Originally consisted of worsted filling and silk warp. Today, it can be found in a variety of blends. It has excellent drapability. It's weight and quality vary with fibres, however, when created with silk and wool it is lustrous and soft. Uses: Dress goods. Textile Dictionary

Oedipal Spectacle
From the myth of Oedipus Rex, about a returning son killing his father, rendered infamous through Freud's interpretation of its significance to men.

And perhaps a Pynchon in-joke of sorts. The protagonist of Lot 49 is Oedipa Maas (it has been suggested: "More Oedipal"), also in trouble over stamps; in fact "Lot 49" refers to the auction lot of Trystero-altered stamps in the collection of Pierce Inverarity (it has been suggested: "Inverse Rarity"), for whose estate Oedipa is executor. A few pages from here the issue of alternate communication forms will be introduced; these references to the issues in Lot 49 could serve to alert the experienced reader of Pynchon to their importance in AtD.

Page 980

Page 981

the one with the destiny
Do we learn anything about this odd Oust child?

(Presumably Ewball?). No, this one is apparently a little child when Ewball is a grownup.

tintypes
A cheap, common and durable form of black and white photographic image where a sensitised collodion is poured upon a thin sheet of soot blackened tin, exposed and developed. Often hand-coloured. The most notable practitioners and teachers of the process in the US are Mark Osterman and France Scully Osterman. The tintype wikipedia entry.

Page 982

the Madero Revolution had moved on
When Madero took office as president in 1911.

Emilio Vázquez
Or Vázquez Gómez. An anti-Madero figure.

Magonistas
Mexican anarchists, followers of Enrique and Ricardo Flores Magón.

Page 983

Pascual Orozco
1882-1915, importer of armaments from U.S., maderista, revolted against Madero government in 1912.

José Inés Salazar
Fought with Orozco against Madero.

Braulio Hernández
Radical Orozquista.

Pancho Villa
Christened Doroteo Arango Arámbula, 1878-1923, Mexican revolutionary general and folk hero.

José Gonzáles Salas
Maderista general in command against Orozco; replaced by Huerta, to Madero's later discomfiture.

Page 984

a sus órdenes
Spanish: (ready) for your orders.

Andale, muchachos
Spanish: let's go, boys.

Page 985

Page 986

Page 987

Benito Juárez Maza
Not the president of Mexico but his son, governor of Oaxaca from 1911 until his death the next year.

Page 988

chegomista
Follower of Che Gómez, identified on page 987.

"El Reparador"
Spanish: "The Fixer." Epithet of a hundred operators in crime literature.

Wie geht's, mein alter Kumpel
German: How are you, my old workmate?

Page 989

a face he recognized
Another angel modeled on Dally?

"máquina loca," "muerte" and "tú"
Spanish: "crazy locomotive," "dead" and "you."

Tu madre chingada puta
Rude, rude Spanish: Your mother's a fucking whore.

Page 990

Melpómene
Name of the Greek muse of tragedy.

Ahora, apágate
Spanish: Now put yourself out, extinguish yourself.

Page 991

Page 992

instantaneously
In violation of Einstein's special theory of relativity.
a wireless, immediate, human way of communicating.

Page 993

Page 994

the Huerta coup
Against Madero, who was shot, February 1913.

Decena Trágica
Spanish: the tragic ten days.

Page 995

Page 996

Since last September the mine workers' union had been out on strike
The Colorado "coal war" of September 1913 to April 1914; here is an eye-opening account.

Page 997

Page 998

Page 999

Annotation Index

Part One:
The Light Over the Ranges

1-25, 26-56, 57-80, 81-96, 97-118

Part Two:
Iceland Spar

119-148, 149-170, 171-198, 199-218, 219-242, 243-272, 273-295, 296-317, 318-335, 336-357, 358-373, 374-396, 397-428

Part Three:
Bilocations

429-459, 460-488, 489-524, 525-556, 557-587, 588-614, 615-643, 644-677, 678-694

Part Four:
Against the Day

695-723, 724-747, 748-767, 768-791, 792-820, 821-848, 849-863, 864-891, 892-918, 919-945, 946-975, 976-999, 1000-1017, 1018-1039, 1040-1062

Part Five:
Rue du Départ

1063-1085

Personal tools