Apes of God II

 APES OF GOD II

I have made several attempts at properly discussing APES OF GOD, especially in the context of Books for Bigots, but am having a rather difficult time of it. My first effort was not satisfactory.  It was a book not easy to read, especially to the very end, where nothing was resolved but the pet, the prop, the toy of Horace Zagreus, Dan Boleyn, receives a get-lost letter from Horace. Dan has been replaced with Margolin.

To get the flavor of the nastiness of the characters in this book, a characteristic that most Bigots might appreciate if they could understand it, Boleyn, sent from Ireland by his parents to London, obviously to be rid of him, is seized upon by Horace as a display prop to show his friends and acquaintances.   Much of the book is set at or around the Lenten Party of the aristocrat Lord Osmund which takes up approximately 250 pages of the book.

Dan is a simpleton, pretty much a vacuum, who is called a genius by Horace, his handler, and, consequently, not only believes himself to be a genius, but also  believes himself a painter without having painted.  Horace, who is the cause of this belief, calls Dan a genius, claims he is a genius when introducing him to his friends and acquaintances but is simply  treated as a prop for display and as a conversation piece.

The world of Lord Osmund, the masquerade costume Lenten Party, is a magnificent piece of absurdity, meanness, and contentlessness, if such a word exists.  If it is your bent to spend a day eating, drinking, making nasty remarks to and about those with whom you dine, Lord Osmund's Lenten Party is for you.

Dan Boleyn, through whose eyes we view the action of the book, is made to display himself nude to be painted by a female painter to whom he was sent, and then put into a dress to finish the book.  The reader is aware of what and how Dan thinks about wearing this dress at the party and comes away, as does Dan, without being sure about what it all means.  There is always the undertone of homosexuality here.

Dan is directed and displayed.  He has no will, no ability to determine his own actions, he is simply directed in all respects for the amusement of others.  When you think about this, it is possible that a Bigot would appreciate this situation and get some decent tips on how to further his Bigotry in his own home and community.  After all, Bigotry consists in the direction and use of other human beings to satisfy one's own beliefs.  Maybe a Bigot could get some tips here.

Consequently, I will maintain that APES OF GOD, if able to get past the title, and actually delve into the book, a Bigot might find some instruction available in how-to Bigotry.  It would take a lot of effort though; too much probably.  Therefore, I will have to say, with some misgivings, that this book can not be recommended to Bigots.

Richard E H Phelps II
Mingo