Hi - this is a note to Mr Webb,
I was so pleased to find your e-text of L'Autre Monde - the notes are wonderful; well-written, intelligent - for so long I've thought this was a book that deserved thorough annotation.
I wondered if you knew of any good web resources for research into the language, science and culture of the time - also if you knew of any good resources regarding Cyrano himself.
Thanks,
Adam Browne
Copyright © 2003 by Adam Browne
Thank you, Adam Browne! It really brightens one’s day to receive mail like that.
The research I had to do for The Other World concerned mainly references to alchemy and alchemists, the history of science in antiquity and the Renaissance, and ancient history and philosophy in general. Those things were better known in Cyrano’s time than they are today.
I’ve referred Mr. Browne to Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac, a very pretty Cyrano website that looks like a “fan club” but is actually quite serious. I’ve also recommended the film Molière for contemporary authenticity. But the language, science and culture of the 17th century, whew! That’s the grand siècle — the “great century” — and a lot was happening then.
Don Webb, for Bewildering Stories
