Ixion in Heaven was published in two installments of the New Monthly Magazine in December 1832 and February 1833.[1]
Plotedit
Ixion, the king of Thessaly (famous for its horses), marries Dia, daughter of Deioneus who steals some of his horses. Ixion invites Deioneus to Larissa (his capital) where Deioneus accidentally (according to Ixion) falls in a pit, whilst walking with Ixion, and dies. Dia accuses Ixion of murder and he flees to a neighbouring kingdom where his account of events is also disbelieved, so Jupiter takes him to heaven.
A retrospective portrayal (1852) of Disraeli as a young man when he wrote Ixion in Heaven
In heaven Ixion goes hunting with Mercury and at dinner meets various gods and goddesses including Apollo (a poet), his sister Diana and the Queen of Heaven, Juno, to whom he takes a fancy. Within three days, however, Ixion is unpopular with the likes of Mercury and Ganymede on account of his generally imperious behaviour. Ixion falls asleep in a field to be woken by Cupid to whom he confides his interest in Juno, who then appears on the scene. Cupid shoots his arrow through both their hearts. The couple are late for dinner, enraging Jupiter. After the meal Mercury and Ganymede tell Jupiter about Ixion's interest in Juno and all the gods head off in search of him. Cupid makes a cloud descend on the pavilion where Ixion is with Juno and in the fog secretly tells Juno to escape. When the cloud lifts, Ixion is alone and Jupiter then banishes him to Hades.
Analysisedit
Ixion in Heaven is a contemporary revision of the myth of Ixion found in the Greek poet Pindar's Pythian Odes and in Apollonius Rhodius including Ixion's murder of his kin, the temptation of Juno, Juno's escape through a fog, and Jove's binding of Ixion to a wheel and casting him out of heaven.[2]
When the novel was republished in 1853, Disraeli wrote that Jupiter represented George IV and Apollo Lord Byron.[3] It has also been suggested that the novel depicts how Disraeli himself would have behaved in heaven.[4]
Receptionedit
Disraeli’s father Isaac, also a novelist, considered Ixion in Heaven and its follow-up The Infernal Marriage which was published the following year as his son’s most original contribution to literature.[1]
The novel was republished in 1926 as part of the Bradenham edition of all Disraeli’s novels, Philip Guedalia’s introduction describing it as “a blend of gaiety and Lemprière….its scheme, perhaps, and something of its tone were owed to Lucian.”[5] Another review of the novel and two other early Disraeli works (Popanilla and The Infernal Marriage) which appeared at this time in The Spectator refers to Disraeli, “ invoking the satiric and the comic muse with a sure hand.”[6]
Referencesedit
^ abBlake, Robert (1966). Disraeli (Prion Books 1998 ed.). Eyre & Spottiswoode. p. 86. ISBN1853752754.
^"Ixion in Heaven Analysis". enotes.com. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
^Gunn, John; Wiebe, Melvin; Disraeli, Benjamin (1982). Benjamin Disraeli Letters: 1852-1856 (1997 ed.). University of Toronto. p. 262. ISBN080204137X. Retrieved 20 July 2018. disraeli Ixion.
^Strachey, J St. Loe (16 January 1926). "Disraeli and Ixion". The Spectator: 20. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
^Disraeli, Benjamin (1926). Popanilla and Other Tales. London: Peter Davies. p. vi.
^Strachey, J St Loe (1 January 1927). "A Political and Social Satirist". The Spectator: 22. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
January 01, 1970
ixion, heaven, fifth, novel, written, benjamin, disraeli, would, later, become, prime, minister, great, britain, authorbenjamin, disraelilanguageenglishpublishernew, monthly, magazinepublication, date1832, 3media, typeprint, contents, background, plot, analysi. Ixion in Heaven is the fifth novel written by Benjamin Disraeli who would later become a Prime Minister of Great Britain Ixion in HeavenAuthorBenjamin DisraeliLanguageEnglishPublisherNew Monthly MagazinePublication date1832 3Media typePrint Contents 1 Background 2 Plot 3 Analysis 4 Reception 5 ReferencesBackground editIxion in Heaven was published in two installments of the New Monthly Magazine in December 1832 and February 1833 1 Plot editIxion the king of Thessaly famous for its horses marries Dia daughter of Deioneus who steals some of his horses Ixion invites Deioneus to Larissa his capital where Deioneus accidentally according to Ixion falls in a pit whilst walking with Ixion and dies Dia accuses Ixion of murder and he flees to a neighbouring kingdom where his account of events is also disbelieved so Jupiter takes him to heaven nbsp A retrospective portrayal 1852 of Disraeli as a young man when he wrote Ixion in Heaven In heaven Ixion goes hunting with Mercury and at dinner meets various gods and goddesses including Apollo a poet his sister Diana and the Queen of Heaven Juno to whom he takes a fancy Within three days however Ixion is unpopular with the likes of Mercury and Ganymede on account of his generally imperious behaviour Ixion falls asleep in a field to be woken by Cupid to whom he confides his interest in Juno who then appears on the scene Cupid shoots his arrow through both their hearts The couple are late for dinner enraging Jupiter After the meal Mercury and Ganymede tell Jupiter about Ixion s interest in Juno and all the gods head off in search of him Cupid makes a cloud descend on the pavilion where Ixion is with Juno and in the fog secretly tells Juno to escape When the cloud lifts Ixion is alone and Jupiter then banishes him to Hades Analysis editIxion in Heaven is a contemporary revision of the myth of Ixion found in the Greek poet Pindar s Pythian Odes and in Apollonius Rhodius including Ixion s murder of his kin the temptation of Juno Juno s escape through a fog and Jove s binding of Ixion to a wheel and casting him out of heaven 2 When the novel was republished in 1853 Disraeli wrote that Jupiter represented George IV and Apollo Lord Byron 3 It has also been suggested that the novel depicts how Disraeli himself would have behaved in heaven 4 Reception editDisraeli s father Isaac also a novelist considered Ixion in Heaven and its follow up The Infernal Marriage which was published the following year as his son s most original contribution to literature 1 The novel was republished in 1926 as part of the Bradenham edition of all Disraeli s novels Philip Guedalia s introduction describing it as a blend of gaiety and Lempriere its scheme perhaps and something of its tone were owed to Lucian 5 Another review of the novel and two other early Disraeli works Popanilla and The Infernal Marriage which appeared at this time in The Spectator refers to Disraeli invoking the satiric and the comic muse with a sure hand 6 References edit a b Blake Robert 1966 Disraeli Prion Books 1998 ed Eyre amp Spottiswoode p 86 ISBN 1853752754 Ixion in Heaven Analysis enotes com Retrieved 20 July 2018 Gunn John Wiebe Melvin Disraeli Benjamin 1982 Benjamin Disraeli Letters 1852 1856 1997 ed University of Toronto p 262 ISBN 080204137X Retrieved 20 July 2018 disraeli Ixion Strachey J St Loe 16 January 1926 Disraeli and Ixion The Spectator 20 Retrieved 20 July 2018 Disraeli Benjamin 1926 Popanilla and Other Tales London Peter Davies p vi Strachey J St Loe 1 January 1927 A Political and Social Satirist The Spectator 22 Retrieved 20 July 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ixion in Heaven amp oldid 1212700921, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
