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Balzac reference in Dylan's 'Chronicles' - question

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christopher rollason

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Dec 19, 2004, 12:05:43 PM12/19/04
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On p. 45 of 'Chronicles Volume One', Dylan mentions
Honoré de Balzac and says he read a novel by him
called 'Luck and Leather'. From the translated title I
can't quite identify the original French title, but is
it maybe 'La peau de chagrin', more often translated as
'The Wild Ass's Skin'? On p. 46, Dylan's words 'Horde
your energy. That's the secret of life' look rather like
a summary of that novel's message as he understands it:
the book is about a man whose life-energy gradually dissipates
as his magic ass's skin shrinks.
I would really like to know!

Chris Rollason

--
----
'Otro modo de ser humano y libre'
('Another way of being human and free')
Rosario Castellanos, 1972

**
Dr Christopher Rollason
M.A. (Cambridge), Ph.D. (York)
Metz, France
Bibliography of writings: www.seikilos.com.ar/biblio.pdf
Editorial board member, The Atlantic Literary Review (Delhi) -
http://atlantys.homeip.net/perso/atlanticliteraryreview/
Editor and contributor, Atlantic Publishers (Delhi) - see
www.vedamsbooks.com
Co-editor, Bob Dylan Critical Corner site:
www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/6752/magazine.html
Co-editor, Walter Benjamin Research Syndicate site:
www.wbenjamin.org/walterbenjamin.html
VISIT: www.seikilos.com.ar/


spjohnny

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Dec 19, 2004, 1:55:12 PM12/19/04
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" On p. 45 of 'Chronicles Volume One', Dylan mentions
> Honoré de Balzac and says he read a novel by him
> called 'Luck and Leather'. From the translated title I
> can't quite identify the original French title, but is
> it maybe 'La peau de chagrin', more often translated as
> 'The Wild Ass's Skin'?

Yes, I think so. See, for example, this site, which has a copy online
(legal or not, I don't know). They give it four titles -- Luck and Leather,
The Magic Skin, The Wild Ass's Skin, The Fatal Skin.

http://www.litgothic.com/Authors/balzac.html

christopher rollason

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Dec 19, 2004, 3:18:58 PM12/19/04
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Thanks for your prompt reply,
I think this answers the question. The idea
of an ever-shrinking skin seems quite Dylanesque somehow, too.
Also there is a compulsive gambling scene in Balzac's novel,
as well as a continual sense of living on the edge.

Best, CR

"spjohnny" <spjo...@volcanomail.com> a écrit dans le message news:
Xns95C48D924193Asp...@216.196.97.138...

Daniel McLean

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Dec 19, 2004, 4:30:36 PM12/19/04
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> "spjohnny" <spjo...@volcanomail.com> a écrit

> > Yes, I think so. See, for example, this site, which has a copy online
> > (legal or not, I don't know). They give it four titles -- Luck and
> Leather,
> > The Magic Skin, The Wild Ass's Skin, The Fatal Skin.
> >
> > http://www.litgothic.com/Authors/balzac.html


thanks for the link ......
couldn't help but be reminded of
The Golden Ass by Apulieus ....

Bob steals good.
Balzac steals better.

a quick Google on Golden Ass ,surprisingly came up with
this at the top of the list.....
http://www.jnanam.net/golden-ass/#novel


Fonyfirl

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Dec 19, 2004, 10:22:51 PM12/19/04
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In a class of its own is the novella The Magic Skin
(La Peau de chagrin, 1831, also translated as "The
Fatal Skin" "The Heartless Woman" "Slave of Desire"
& "Luck & Leather") about a man who, on his way to
committing suicide, stops in at a junkshop for one last
look at the flotsam of peoples' useless lives, & acquires
a piece of a donkey's hide that grants wishes -- to increasingly frustrating
effect, until it really begins to seem that suicide
would've been better. It's a great work & his first popular success.

http://www.violetbooks.com/REVIEWS/jas-balzac.html

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