The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington

Oftentimes, a wonderful painter does not a fine novelist make.  And so it was with a bit of hesitancy I started reading The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington, one of my all time favorite surrealist painters.  After coming to the end of the first page, however, my fears disappated, and I found myself quickly enchanted by both the story and Carrington's gifted way with words.

The book is about a ninety-two year-old woman named Marion Leatherby, who has, depending on your interpretation, either wild geriatric imaginings, or a perceptive sense of the otherworldly.  She lives with her adult son and his dreadful family, though is happy enough with her cats, her garden, and her friendship with the deliciously eccentric Carmella (who is based on Carrington's real-life friend, Remedios Varo).  Early on in the novel, Marion is put into an old folks home, where the cottages are designed in whimsical shapes such as a birthday cake and an igloo - but which is run by a cultish, regimented couple who follow the teachings of the Well of the Light Brotherhood.  It soon becomes clear that Marion and her new friends must revolt against their cruel keepers.  Carrington tells this tale by interweaving both classical- and her own invented mythology, often drawing upon images from fairytales and legends.  To say more would give too much away, though I will mention a nun obsessed with erotic mysticism, a bee pond, and the Holy Grail figure prominently.  Scrumptious.

In sum, The Hearing Trumpet is a small miracle with vast visions, an irresistable heroine, and plenty of satirical and wise observations about aging, womanhood, magic, and society at large.  I can't recommend it more highly.

Comments

[acep]

Love both Leonora and this book. Have you read Jodorowsky's account of working with her in Mexico? I was alternately laughing my ass off and simply awestruck by her.

[Pam]

Not yet, though I just started his book Psychomagic today, in keeping with the Carrington-Jodorowsky connection. It's definitely on my reading list though! XO