Once, Twice, or Another Number of Times....

Has anyone read any Donald Barthelme? In particular, has anyone read "The Indian Uprising"? If not, I would certainly recommend it. The story has three main themes -- violence of war, male-female relationships, and deception -- and he mixes these themes and blends them quite remarkably. Barthelme's style isn't for everyone, but I love the way he plays with words and syntax, especially in this story. I would also recommend "Robert Kennedy Saved From Drowning", written only two months before Kennedy's assassination, and "Snow White", published in 1967.

If you like the writing styles of T.S. Elliot, Samuel Becket, James Joyce, Mallarme and even Baudelaire, you will like Barthelme. (Well, even if you don't like the above authors and poets, I think you would find something that you would like by Barthelme.) I don't think Eler Beth is ready to read or understand him, but I have enjoyed getting reacquainted with him.

"The Indian Uprising" is included in a collection of short stories by Barthelme called "Unspeakable Practices, Unnatural Acts", which you should be able to find in your local library. There is a pretty decent summary of the story here, but you can't really feel the "weird dream" quality of the story without actually reading it.