Comments on: The Other Apprentice http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/04/the-other-apprentice/ The Japan History Group Blog Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:08:31 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Jonathan Dresner http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/04/the-other-apprentice/comment-page-1/#comment-53228 Jonathan Dresner Sat, 24 Feb 2007 03:10:43 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/04/the-other-apprentice/#comment-53228 I'd seen variations on that theory when I wrote this, but I think it's far too circumstantial. For one thing, I've not really seen anyone explain <i>what</i> Straussian principles guide the book, or what situation it might be an allegory for. I'm open to the possibilities, but there's enough political writing and historical events to parse without delving into their recreational writings. Sometimes you just have a novel in you, and it's not related to anything else you do.... I’d seen variations on that theory when I wrote this, but I think it’s far too circumstantial. For one thing, I’ve not really seen anyone explain what Straussian principles guide the book, or what situation it might be an allegory for. I’m open to the possibilities, but there’s enough political writing and historical events to parse without delving into their recreational writings.

Sometimes you just have a novel in you, and it’s not related to anything else you do….

]]> By: Aster http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/04/the-other-apprentice/comment-page-1/#comment-53203 Aster Fri, 23 Feb 2007 23:57:03 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/04/the-other-apprentice/#comment-53203 Thank you for this helpful reading, grounded in historical fact. I've also read the book, and suspect Libby emphasized geopolitical intrigue because he may have been writing a text to illustrate the principles of Leo Strauss. Fascinating that this is a spy novel, given Libby's situation, and that a lot of casual readers seem to miss that fact. My own take is here: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/2/18/23552/1345 Thank you for this helpful reading, grounded in historical fact. I’ve also read the book, and suspect Libby emphasized geopolitical intrigue because he may have been writing a text to illustrate the principles of Leo Strauss. Fascinating that this is a spy novel, given Libby’s situation, and that a lot of casual readers seem to miss that fact.

My own take is here:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/2/18/23552/1345

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