The International Lawrence Durrell Society Herald Number 35 May 20, 2016 Pamela J. Francis, Editor Susan S. MacNiven, Founding Editor be proud to add, those resilient Durrell’s hopes are confirmed. The President’s and remarkable creatures, Dur- Ventris’ theory is that Cretan rellians! civilization, at least in the later Column periods associated with the Linear B tablets, had been part Linda Rashidi, Of the “conundrum” that is of Mycenean Greece. Linear B Crete, the Minotaur is perhaps President, ILDS script is a combination of syl- the biggest puzzle, says Dur- labic signs (phonetic) and ideo- Elected May 2014 rell as he contemplates what grams (semantic symbols, e.g. is Crete, and “equally full of a drawing of a cow or spear); enigma” is the maze. Durrell this then is a script similar to ponders the myth and reality, Chinese, predating the Greek As I think ahead to June and exploring theories from vari- alphabet (c. 1450 BCE). Used actually being on Crete, I have ous perspectives (psychology, for writing Mycenean Greek, it been browsing through Dur- history, lore, religion), and con- is the earliest attested form of rell’s scattered but delicious cludes: “Myself, I think that a Greek. What I found interest- The Greek Islands. He begins man sentenced to death was ing (but Durrell finds regrettable his section on Crete with this: given an outside chance of and boring, lamenting the lack “To the Greeks Crete seems redeeming his life by crossing of poetry with its promise of a the most authentically Greek of the labyrinth and avoiding the window into ancient Cretan life) all the islands [. .]”. “The big Minotaur if he could.” Surely, is that, like other early scripts island” is pushed up “like a le- this is The Dark Labyrinth in a around the Mediterranean viathan” where it lies, “rugged” nutshell. (Berber and ancient Libyan), and “disquieting,” full of history, the script was used mainly for myth, and lore. Its mountains official, administrative docu- are the stuff of legendary (and As a linguist, I was taken with Durrell’s extensive discussion ments. Since Ventris’ work in actual) heroic struggle, while the 1950s, scholars have been the labyrinths left when the land of Linear B, the ancient script found by the archaeologist working on these tablets, and— belched its way to the surface here’s the exciting part—Linear are mysterious places of both Arthur Evans at Knossos and deciphered by Michael Ventris. B has been added to the Uni- shelter and redemption. Dur- code Standard, meaning that rell’s Crete is a place of wild- There is great debate over both its authenticity and origins, but Linear B is now tech-y official ness, honor, and resolve—no and available in ASCII. Yes, you wimps here. Says Durrell: “The Durrell hopes “that Ventris is correct,” and that this is the first too can get a Linear B font for Cretans have seen everything— your computer! the collapse of the Minoan known script of a very ancient Empire, the rise of Venice, the Greek. Durrell uses the En- slave markets of Turkey, Nazi cyclopaedia Britannica for his I am continually amazed at Dur- parachutists and American hip- “scholarship” on this, so I went rell’s erudition and his ability pies—nothing has been spared to our modern version, Wikipe- to be ahead of the curve on so them.” And now, Durrell might dia. many fronts—even linguistics, ILDS Herald p. 2 cont’d-from previous page other languages is important to appear in Deus Loci 14; check about which, I am sure, he had the goals of the Society. To fa- them out, as they are evocative little explicit knowledge. The cilitate this, the ILDS maintains of the spirit of islands. David OMG XIX Program Committee a critical bibliography through Radavich, Poetry Editor, will be has planned an after-confer- the online database Zotero. You announcing the next contest ence excursion to Knossos, can access this by going to our soon. where, hopefully, we can view website www.lawrencedurrell. 6) The Board encourages this earliest of writing scripts. If org and clicking on Bibliogra- current members to consider you haven’t already done so, phies and then Critical. sponsoring new members. This you can still register for OMG 2) A nominating committee option will be seen on your re- XIX and join us on Crete, June for Executive Board members newal forms, but you can do it 26-30. And, no, you needn’t for 2016-18 has been set up. at any time through the website. present a paper to attend the David Radavich chairs this com- The Board is also setting up conference and participate in mittee and is joined by James a “William Godshalk Student the excursions planned by Anna Gifford, Don Kaczvinsky, and Scholarship,” as a tribute to the Lillios and her crew. Besides Grove Koger. By the time this late Bill Godshalk. This is anoth- Durrell on Crete, a contingent newsletter reaches you, they er way you can contribute to the from the Patrick Leigh Fermor should have a slate, which will ILDS and help to disseminate all Society will be joining us, and be presented at the General things Durrellian. More on this presentations and excursions Meeting at OMG XIX for a vote. later. to WWII sites are in the offer- 3) We are already think- ing. Durrell makes much of the ing ahead to OMG XX in 2018. While I am trading in my presi- stalwart people of Crete (as The normal and informal rota- does Fermor in his writing), so it dent’s hat for that of past presi- tion would put this On Miracle dent, the hard-working core of is especially exciting that Anna Ground back in North America, has planned a visit to her an- the Society remains in place. but the Board is soliciting ideas These people work in large cestral village. You don’t want to for locations as widely as pos- miss this On Miracle Ground. part behind the scenes, but it is sible. So bring ideas to Crete their input that keeps both the or pass them on to any Board Society and the legacy of Dur- As this is my last column as member. We will have discus- rell alive and vibrant. I have dis- President of the International sion of possible sites at the covered in my two years at the Lawrence Durrell Society, I General Meeting. helm that the ILDS, like Durrell want to express my deep ap- 4) Anna Lillios is already at himself, is creative, innovative, preciation to the loyal and work on Deus Loci 15. Those of at times combative, but always hard-working members of the you outside North America will of good cheer. Executive Board. This is not a be pleased to know that with perfunctory or honorary Board; this issue, we are moving to without them, there would be no Print on Demand, meaning your I hope to see many of you at Society. They work tirelessly to copies should arrive more expe- the end of June on the sunny keep Durrell’s work and legacy ditiously than in the past. island of Crete. Until then, keep exploring and promoting the alive. Our meeting in February 5) I am personally happy in Louisville went on for over works and ideas of Lawrence that we will be continuing the Durrell. four (very productive!) hours. White Mice Contest. There will Here are a few of the highlights be a session at OMG XIX de- of what we discussed: voted to the poetry of the final- 1) Making work on Durrell ists from the 2013 and 2015 available both in English and in contests. These poems also ILDS Herald p. 3 On Miracle Ground XIX Threading the Labyrinth: World War II in the Greek World A Conference of the International Lawrence Durrell Society Rethymnon, Crete, 26-30 June 2016 Here are just a few things the Conference Commitee has planned for you: Monday morning: Three Keynote Addresses: Michael Haag, “Setting the Scene” Ian S. MacNiven,“Climax in Crete: A Personal Narrative” Chris White, “The Kreipe Kidnap” Tuesday: Tour of World War II Sites: “In the Footsteps of Leigh Fermor: The General Kreipe Abduction Route, Allied Secret Services, The Resistance.” Conducted by Costas Mamalakis (Historical Museum of Crete); assisted by Chris White. Wednesday evening: On Miracle Ground XIX Conference Banquet at the Melina Res- taurant at the Old Fort in Rethymnon http://www.melina-rethymno.gr/en/ Thursday: Visit to the WWII Memorial in Alikianos, tour of the Manousakis Winery, and visit to the Archeological Museum and harbor of Chania. And of course, the conference will feature several panels of papers on Durrell, Greece, Fermor, and others, and plenty of discussion. The winning White Mice Poetry Contest poems will be read, and I understand there will be dramatic performancees as well! Please join us in Crete on June 26! ILDS Herald p. 4 case of sophomore boys, Mom has did on Rhodes in 2004. That was a Letter from your a hand in the choices. This year, I banquet to remember! I know this had a young man who was, well, a one will be too--I mean, c’mon--it’s editor... whole lot of trouble. But we made Crete! it through the year, and he may have even matured a wee bit. His See you there!!! The end of the academic mother and I corresponded fre- year is busy and bittersweet...the quently, so I wasn’t too surprised rounds of performances and pre- to get a little gift from her.