Day 6 New Worlds in Space and Time

New Worlds in Space and Time

The Book

The UnTied Kingdom by Kate Johnson, 15 Jan 2014

This is one of those supremely satisfying books where the balance between adventure and romance is perfectly structured. Too often one element is thrown in either to soften or spice up the other, to supply some dramatic tension because the original story cannot provide it on its own.

There is one leap of belief needed and that is to accept the possibility of parallel worlds. Otherwise, reality rules. Eve, an ex-pop star with money problems, forced to do humiliating sensation TV to earn some money, is accidentally  flung through a hole in the sky above Tower Bridge. She and the birdlike contraption she is riding on land in the Thames. She is rescued to find that England is in the throes of a devastating civil war. The world is dominated by the French Empire and the Coalitionists, who want to cede to France, have rebelled against the English government. Eve has been rescued by a major in the government army to whom it is obvious that she is either a French spy or a lunatic.

This is an England that is both poor and backward. There are a few cars, but they are too expensive to run. Few people have electricity or telephones. Food is scarce because most of the young men have been conscripted into the army. Despite the bravery of the soldiers it is apparent that the government are losing. There are rumours that the French, who are much more technically advanced that the English, have supplied the rebels with a device called a computer, which is allowing them to spread intelligence imperceptibly. The major, Harker, remembers that Eve has mentioned computers in her ramblings. He releases her from prison and with a small army unit, they move north to try and capture one of these devices.

This is a rough, harsh world and the author does not protect us from the reality of warfare and violence, but it is never gratuitous and is a valid part of the story. One hopes everything will end well, but it is not certain.

This is well plotted with lots of strong characters who draw you into the story so that you care what happens to all of them - and for some there is no happy ending . The parallel world is vividly depicted and it is a much more brutal, unpredictable place than this world. This adds to the tension and apprehension that builds up towards the end. This is an excellent read.

Some Music

Los Pájaros Perdidos – (the lost birds) L’Arpeggiata  Virgin Classics in 2012

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nkyQc1kL_0

New Worlds New Music

Before Spanish and Portuguese explorers arrived in South America with their lutes, guitars and harps, there were no plucked instruments in the Americas. These instruments were then adapted by indigenous people who developed their own ways of playing.  This has led to the living tradition of harps and guitars with names like “charango” and “cuatro.”  Some of the dances they play have their roots in European baroque music, but they have evolved their very own indigenous rhythmic characteristics.

The ensemble L’Arpeggiata under the direction of Christina Pluhar combines European baroque instruments such as theorbo, cornetto, violin and psaltery with traditional South American instruments in this collection of traditional folk music, baroque music and contemporary music. 

I love this music. Pluhar and L’Arpeggiata tend to specialise on Baroque and earlier music. The Spanish and Portuguese took European Baroque to South America L’Arpeggiata have given it a further twist and the resulting fusion is at times like Baroque jazz.

Food

A Sauce from the New World

Mojo, a Garlic-Citrus Sauce from Cuba
4 garlic cloves
2 jalapeno or serrano peppers, seeds removed
1 heaping handful of fresh coriander or flat leaf parsley
dash of ground coriander
Juice of 1 very large orange or 2 smaller
Juice of 2 limes
250 ml olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients into a blender or small food processor and whirl until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.

 Variations

1.     To strengthen the lime flavour, add the zest of the limes.

2.     If you don’t like it too sour, add honey to taste. (Add it a little at a time – too much will make it a dessert sauce!)

3.     If you like it more sour add soy sauce.

4.     If you like it richer, add butter chopped into 1cm cubes, a few at a time, stirring until absorbed before adding more.

5.     Add different herb mixes.

 

This sauce is excellent on fish, pork and chicken or as a dipping sauce for crisps or raw vegetables.

Today’s Picture – New Worlds of Art

In fact two pictures today, both Picasso, one from when he was very young and the other painted towards the end of his life. I think they show very clearly how during the 20^th Century, art entered a new world with ideas and techniques that would have been completely alien to earlier painters.

These two portraits, both by the same artist, though in vastly different styles and painted fifty years apart, show that it is possible to show the essence of the subject regardless of style.