Showing posts with label Myron Brinig. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Myron Brinig. Show all posts

Friday, March 13, 2015

Lynd Ward's Woodcuts for Myron Brinig's The Flutter of an Eyelid


Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : Title Page
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
Title Page
One of the lovely things about Myron Brinig's The Flutter of an Eyelid is the illustrations by Lynd Ward. A simple 1-inch square woodcut at the beginning of each chapter illustrates the key events of that chapter in a surprisingly complete way. Ward is particularly skilled at this since he 'wrote' six novels without words in the 1920s and 1930s (God's Man, Madman's Drum, Wild Pilgrimage, Prelude to a Million Years, Song Without Words, and Vertigo), each work telling a story through a series of woodcuts. The form requires the 'reader' to sit with the images, sometimes returning to earlier ones, each time picking up some subtle nuance not previously seen.

The woodcuts for The Flutter of an Eyelid perfectly fit the story which has both classical and modern themes. They illustrate this particular story but at the same time feel completely timeless.

Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : I: Approach by Sea
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
I: Approach by Sea
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : II: A Sunny Day in California
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
II: A Sunny Day in California
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : III: The Black Tub
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
III: The Black Tub
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : IV: Characters of the Novel
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
IV: Characters of the Novel
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : V: Nudes on the Beach
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
V: Nudes on the Beach
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : VI: The Boat of Yang Kuo-chung
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
VI: The Boat of Yang Kuo-chung
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : VII: L'Après Midi d'un Faune
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
VII: L'Après Midi d'un Faune
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : VIII: A Woman in Christ's Shadow
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
VIII: A Woman in Christ's Shadow
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : IX: Music at Dark
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
IX: Music at Dark
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : X: Passion Upon a Cold and Thoughtful Stone
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
X: Passion Upon a Cold and Thoughtful Stone
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XI: The Road is Long
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XI: The Road is Long
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XII: The Tempest
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XII: The Tempest
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XIII: Life and Times of Lad Greengable: The Wanderer
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XIII: Life and Times of Lad Greengable: The Wanderer
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XIV: Worshippers of the Moon
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XIV: Worshippers of the Moon
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XV: Time, Gentlemen, Time!
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XV: Time, Gentlemen, Time!
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XVI: Make Way for the Lord
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XVI: Make Way for the Lord
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XVII: Opium
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XVII: Opium
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XVIII: Tragedy at Sea
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XVIII: Tragedy at Sea
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XIX: Life and Times of Lad Greengable: À Rebours
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XIX: Life and Times of Lad Greengable: À Rebours
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XX: Preludes
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XX: Preludes
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXI: Dorosel
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXI: Dorosel
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXII: Death of a Poet
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXII: Death of a Poet
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXIII: Tears in the Evening
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXIII: Tears in the Evening
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXIV: Jainticanto
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXIV: Jainticanto
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXV: Concerto
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXV: Concerto
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXVI: The Lavengros
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXVI: The Lavengros
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXVII: Five Points of a Star
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXVII: Five Points of a Star
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXVIII: A Pitiful Little Man
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXVIII: A Pitiful Little Man
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXIX: Prisoners
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXIX: Prisoners
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXX: Violet Colored Mazes of Defeat
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXX: Violet Colored Mazes of Defeat
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXXI: The Day Was a Great Golden Cube
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXXI: The Day Was a Great Golden Cube
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXXII: Sinners in the Temple
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXXII: Sinners in the Temple
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXXIII: End of the Novel
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXXIII: End of the Novel
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXXIV: New England Interior
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXXIV: New England Interior
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXXV: The Trial
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXXV: The Trial
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXXVI: Departure to the Sea
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXXVI: Departure to the Sea
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933 : Illustrated by Lynd Ward : XXXVII: Finis
Myron Brinig, The Flutter of an Eyelid, 1933
Illustrated by Lynd Ward
XXXVII: Finis


The Flutter of an Eyelid by Myron Brinig

The flutter of an eyelid. Digital ID: 495331. New York Public Library
New York : Farrar & Rinehart, 1933
Linked image: New York Public Library, Collection of Book Jackets
Myron Brinig's The Flutter of an Eyelid is the story of writer, Caslon Roanoke who arrives in Los Angeles to work on his latest novel. His neighbors are an interesting bunch and he constructs his novel around them. Over time, it becomes less and less clear to the reader whether we are reading what is actually happening or if we are reading Roanoke's  novel.

A gay reading of the text centers on Mrs. Forgate, reputed murderer of several husbands, her young boyfriend Antonio and Hubert Daché, a poet from Texas. Antonio and Hubert's budding relationship is problematic for Mrs. Forgate and dangerous for them.

In Earl Ganz' novel, The Taos Truth Game, Myron Brinig appears as the main character and describes the story behind the publication of The Flutter of an Eyelid. The conversation is between Hal (poet, Witter Bynner) and Myron Brinig (p.40-41).
The Taos Truth Game by Earl Ganz; Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2006
Albuquerque: University of New
Mexico Press, 2006
     "Myron, before I forget, " said the poet, "I want you to sign something for me." And he led Myron to a table on which lay a copy of The Flutter of an Eyelid.
     "Where'd you get this?" asked Myron, picking the book up.
     "I had Villagra save it for me."
     "You read it?" Myron asked in spite of himself. The question always sounded like begging.
     " Yes and I loved it," said Hal. "It's South Wind set in Malibu. And some of it's about people like us."
     "It's all about people like us," said Myron.
     "So what happened?"
     "A woman in LA thought she saw herself in it and brought suit."
     "Farrar & Rinehart wouldn't go to bat for you?"
     "No."
     "Was it her?"
     "The person I took the character from was a man. It was Farrar & Rinehart who asked me to change the gender."
     "So they knew who the character was and still wouldn't defend you?"
     "That's right. They'd rather take the loss than admit they had published a novel about homosexuals.
Bibliographies & Ratings: While Brinig's This Man is My Brother (1932) is listed in all four bibliographies, The Flutter of an Eyelid, also with obvious gay content, is absent. Perhaps the withdrawal of the title by the publisher is to blame for this oversight.