04 February 2009, 12:41 PM
hen8wenMexican stories: Joseph & Marie?
Off the bat I know of 2 Mexican stories featuring
Joseph & Marie, "Interval in Sunlight" and
"The Next in Line." These are some of Ray's best
stories, IMHO. Does anyone know if there are any additional stories related to this sequence? Were they part of a planned, longer work? Any details
appreciated!
Glenn
04 February 2009, 07:25 PM
dandelionNone that I know of. They were inspired by Ray's traumatic trip to Mexico with a friend. It's interesting to note Marie is the viewpoint sympathetic character with whom author and reader identify.
05 February 2009, 03:43 AM
philnicThere are various other stories with a Mexican setting (The Candy Skull is one. The Fox and the Forest is another), but they are all quite unrelated in terms of characters and events.
I seem to recall there was some mention of these stories being either collected together or woven together at some point - possibly in Sam Weller's biography of Ray, or in Eller & Touponce's The Life of Fiction. (Ray's equally diverse Irish stories were eventually woven into a more or less coherent novel (Green Shadow, White Whale), so it can be done.)
I have no idea whether this idea went anywhere, and I don't have any more detailed recollections I'm afraid.
05 February 2009, 08:33 AM
hen8wenAh, should've checked Eller & Touponce.
The 2 stories were going to frame others set
in Mexico (although not involving the same
characters). Too bad, it would've made a good
book!
Glenn