Jack Havig does not know whether events are unchangeable but does know that his attempts were unsuccessful;
the Middle Ages seemed Oriental maybe just because the East has changed less (we remember the "prehistorically ancient kinship" (see here) that Manse Everard found in many periods);
Havig saw Caesar's legions in triumph in Rome, Viking ships in Oslo Fjord and Leonardo da Vinci working;
most of his experiences were superficial;
strange environments, language problems, danger of being arrested for not fitting in.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I recall how one of the most striking parts of David Hume's HISTORY OF ENGLAND was his narrative describing the antics of Henry VIII in his later years and how a cringing, servile Parliament was constantly reversing and contradicting itself as it tried to gratify his erratic whims. That too would probably have struck Jack Havig as very Oriental!
Sean
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