[WT Sharpe]

I finally finished Rites of Spring. Although it was entertaining enough for a history book, for some reason it was slow-going for me. The author's main premise appeared to be that all of history as it unfolded in the first half of the twentieth century could be traced to changing sensibilities in art. An interesting premise, but one I felt that, despite the intense research put in by the author, was left, at the end of the day, unproven.

I plan to comment on this book further, but in the meantime I'd like to comment on a quote within its pages that reminded me of a quote from, of all people, Douglas Adams. I'll simply lay the two quotes before you by way of illustration.

.....Karsavina in her autobiography has an anecdote to relate about Nijinsky that reveals as much about the latter’s mentality as it does about the effect of his agility. Somebody was asking Nijinsky if it was difficult to stay in the air as he did while jumping; he did not understand at first, and then very obligingly: “No! No! not difficult. You have to just go up and then pause a little up there.”

— Rites of Spring: The Great War and the Birth of the Modern Age by Modris Eksteins

.....“The Guide says that there is an art to flying,” said Ford, “or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” He smiled weakly. He pointed at the knees of his trousers and held his arms up to show the elbows. They were all torn and worn through.
.....“I haven’t done very well so far.” he said.

— Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams.