Author Julie Gilbert Discusses the Writing of Her New Book ‘Giant Love’
Julie Gilbert Today, we delve into the enduring relevance of the themes explored by Pulitzer Prize -winning author Edna Ferber
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By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) Science fiction has reinvented the Robinsonade – a narrative based on the scenario described in Daniel Defoe’s – on numerous occasions and in a variety of ways. We’ve had individuals stranded on a whole planet rather than a mere island (a scenario used, in recent times, as the basis for Andy Weir’s The Martian ), and we’ve had individuals stranded on traffic islands in the middle of a busy city (see J. G. Ballard’s 1974 masterpiece Concrete Island ). But H. G. Wells (1866-1946) gave us another take on the Robinsonade. In his 1895 short story ‘The Remarkable Case of Davidson’s Eyes’, the titular character remains in busy London while his eyes appear to be stranded on a desert island in the Pacific. Or, perhaps more accurately, his eyes are seeing a remote Pacific island, even while they, along with the rest of Davidson, remain in London. This intriguing premise requires further attention and analysis, but first, here’s a brief plot summary of ‘The Remarkable Case of Davidson’s Eyes’. Summary The narrator, a scientist named Bellows, tells of how a fellow student of his at the Harlow Technical College, Sidney Davidson, has a kind of seizure during a thunderstorm while in the laboratory. Davidson claims to be able to see a beach and a ship somewhere far away. Bellows and a third colleague, Boyce, help Davidson with his affliction, which lasts for three weeks. Davidson is also engaged to Bellows’ sister. Bellows tells us that Davidson’s strange state was worse than being blind, since he can see (and thus be distracted by) things, but not the things in front of him: instead, his eyes appear to be seeing things which are thousands of miles away on this unfamiliar beach. While he is unable to see what’s around him, Wade, the Dean of the college, suggests that Davidson is carried out into town in a bath-chair, to get some fresh air. While he is out, Davidson sees water approaching, and tells Bellows that it’s as if he is being carried into the sea. He […]
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Julie Gilbert Today, we delve into the enduring relevance of the themes explored by Pulitzer Prize -winning author Edna Ferber
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