Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
highly entertaining, 23 Jul 2006
This is a very entertaining historical novel with several scenes that made me laugh out loud. The narrator is involved in the census, the universal language movement, and in dealing with a difficult travel companion. Along the way he tries to teach Volapuk to anyone who will listen to him (and the lessons are included in the book, so you can actually learn the basics of classical Volapuk by studying this text). His conflicts with the proponents of other constructed languages are hilarious and will seem startingly familiar to anyone who has been involved in this milieu.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The quest for an international language, 19 Jan 2007
Andrew Drummond, in his first novel An Abridged History and in this latest offering, is in process of creating a unique style of writing that keeps his readers on their toes. At what point of the novel will Drummond digress from apparent reality to illusion and delusion? He displays a fertile imagination in constructing his plots, thoroughly backed up with research in order to accurately depict historical context. A Hand-book of Volapük accompanies Gemmell Hunter Ibidem Justice in his meanderings around Scotland, in 1891, in pursuit of his craft of repairing and maintaining church organs. But Justice's every spare moment is occupied by a greater mission, that of promoting an International Language - Volapük. But Justice has an adversary who has the same objective of evangelising the use of a tongue comprehended by all, Dr Henry Bosman - except that Bosman advocates Esperanto. The two are locked in vigorous rivalry as they endeavour to gather their individual followings. The latter part of the novel finds our combatants involved in intrigues in Mavisbank lunatic asylum - or were they there all the time? An escape attempt by hot air balloon does not go to plan, which brings us back to the beginning of the novel and how Charles Cordiner, professor of phrenology, was able to acquire Justice's notes to compile this Hand-book of Volapük. In addition to enjoying a good read, you can even learn the basics of this universal language, which may stand you in good stead should it ever catch on.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Gloriously eccetric - and educational, too., 17 Jun 2007
A wonderfully eccentric novel featuring some equally eccentric characters and an even more eccentric language. Apart from the protagonist and narrator, Mr Justice, there is Sir Thomas, an elderly gent who speaks in riddles but seduces young ladies with alarming ease, Mr Jo (pronounced "Shaw"), and Cödel Yagöl, the Hunting Judge, who is Justice's alter ego, a sort of Judge Dredd of the Volapük world.
Read carefully and you will be both entertained AND instructed - you will learn a little Volapük, its complex declensions and much more, and realise why it never caught on.
Sötol studön volapük al kanön pükön ko nets valik - You ought to study Volapük so you can speak with every nation!
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