Pratchett's Countries
- Thread starter captainmeme
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Unfortunately, I can't read such lyrics so far
I don't understand it at all But I know that in Russian translation this line from 'Alice' sounds like 'И хрюкотали зелюки...' = 'I hrjukotali zeljuki...'.
Thus, Small unknown creatures which color is green. They are grunting with rattle somewhere there... Abracadabra!
Thus, borogoves (from L.Carroll) means green small creatures in Russian (as Google-translate confirms!)... oh ...
Sorry, this was out of topic...
Sir Terry is international author, indeed
This does not seem to be the case because Leonard of Quirm is a caricature of Leonardo da Vinci (Leonardo of Vinci), which would make Quirm = Italy.
edit: Reading though some other posts I see a stronger case made for countries other than quirm representing Italy. I conclude that the cities are more of an amalgamation. They have an overall 'feel and vibe' but little nuances and quirks added in from other countries, regions, and cultures. So, these mixed bag countries are more of an amalgamation. This is what really makes the most practical sense. I mean, why be restricted to the limitations of a certain country when you can just add and leave off as you please? It's your creation, do whatever you want! And, thank God for that because doing whatever you want is exactly what Sir Terry does. :dance:
edit: Reading though some other posts I see a stronger case made for countries other than quirm representing Italy. I conclude that the cities are more of an amalgamation. They have an overall 'feel and vibe' but little nuances and quirks added in from other countries, regions, and cultures. So, these mixed bag countries are more of an amalgamation. This is what really makes the most practical sense. I mean, why be restricted to the limitations of a certain country when you can just add and leave off as you please? It's your creation, do whatever you want! And, thank God for that because doing whatever you want is exactly what Sir Terry does. :dance:
I thought Brindisi was Italy. It's actually a place in Italy as well as being the name used for a drinking song in Italian opera - although it is originally a German term equivalent to "cheers!".
I don't think any of Discworld's places have exact replicas on Roundworld - just a general familiarity.
Welcome to the site, CrippleMrOnion.
I don't think any of Discworld's places have exact replicas on Roundworld - just a general familiarity.
Welcome to the site, CrippleMrOnion.
Tonyblack said:
I thought Brindisi was Italy. It's actually a place in Italy as well as being the name used for a drinking song in Italian opera - although it is originally a German term equivalent to "cheers!".
I don't think any of Discworld's places have exact replicas on Roundworld - just a general familiarity.
Welcome to the site, CrippleMrOnion.
I don't think any of Discworld's places have exact replicas on Roundworld - just a general familiarity.
Welcome to the site, CrippleMrOnion.
Da Vinci has spent a long part of his life in France actually. (françois the first was his pal)
That's why the Mona Lisa is at Paris for example and not in Italy.
And come one, La Gendarmerie de Quirm ? Captain Emile ? "Nom d'une bouilloire! Pourquoi est-ce-que je suis hardiment ri sous cape a part des dieux?" ?
That's why the Mona Lisa is at Paris for example and not in Italy.
And come one, La Gendarmerie de Quirm ? Captain Emile ? "Nom d'une bouilloire! Pourquoi est-ce-que je suis hardiment ri sous cape a part des dieux?" ?
I don't think it is as clear-cut as people are making it out to be. To me Ankh-Morpork seems to have some obvious London references, as well as obvious New York references. So I think it's more of an amalgamation of Anglosphere major cities instead of any one thing in particular. Using dollars and pence for currency, sort of covers all of the English speaking countries. There are lots of cities represented in AM, which is why so many people think it sounds like 'their' city. For example, in the forward for the Truth he specifically states that the way that AM worked out its flooding problem was "curiously similar" to the way Seattle, WA worked out its own.
If TP thought there was something funny to reference from Dublin or Toronto, or any other English speaking large city, it's probably in AM somewhere.
The other places in the books are similar too, I don't think any of them are one specific place, but combinations of things that sort of fit together. And some of those places may fit with other places someplace else as well.
If TP thought there was something funny to reference from Dublin or Toronto, or any other English speaking large city, it's probably in AM somewhere.
The other places in the books are similar too, I don't think any of them are one specific place, but combinations of things that sort of fit together. And some of those places may fit with other places someplace else as well.
I thought that America (broadly) was represented by Omnia, though I have never been able to work out where that is.
I heard that originally Ankh-Morpork was broadly based on a well known Fantasy city whose name I forget by a very famous author whose name I also forget, but I remember reading it in the 70s. When the first couple of books came out everyone said "That's [city I can't remember]! By [author famous for writing about it]! But that was long ago.
Regrettably, despite Hide Park, i won't be able to recognise it as London till the Underground is up (sorry down) and running
I heard that originally Ankh-Morpork was broadly based on a well known Fantasy city whose name I forget by a very famous author whose name I also forget, but I remember reading it in the 70s. When the first couple of books came out everyone said "That's [city I can't remember]! By [author famous for writing about it]! But that was long ago.
Regrettably, despite Hide Park, i won't be able to recognise it as London till the Underground is up (sorry down) and running
The city you are thinking off is Lankhmar and the author is Fritz Leiber and his 'Swords and Sorcery' series. The books were about two heroes, Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser whose DW 'alter egos' were also met on the road in the 'Colour of Magic' as Rincewind and Twoflower were fleeing Ankh-Morpork. It was Sir Terry's lampooning and treatment of my favourite fantasy books that got me hooked to DW in the first place.
One I missed off the list (as, I think, did everyone else, unless I missed it when skim-reading) was Llamedos. Reference to Wales, I think? I actually only noticed the backwards spelling when I saw the word in Raising Steam... I'd read Soul Music loads of times and never seen it.
Makes me feel just as stupid as when I read through the entire Moving Pictures book without realising Holy Wood was a reference to HollyWood
Makes me feel just as stupid as when I read through the entire Moving Pictures book without realising Holy Wood was a reference to HollyWood