Mountain climbing, girls, eternal philosophical questions...
December 22, 2011 7:24 AM Subscribe
I have a vague memory of reading a philosophical text with a high-school student I was tutoring...There are perhaps two people in the story, and they are climbing a mountain. One of them, a young man, is hung up on a girl. Perhaps the other character is a brother or even his mother? Does this ring any bells?
Maybe something from The Holy Man or The Holy Man's Journey, both by Susan Trott?
posted by milk white peacock at 10:53 AM on December 22, 2011
posted by milk white peacock at 10:53 AM on December 22, 2011
Response by poster: Hmm. No, but thanks. I'm thinking it was Italian, perhaps 14th-15th century?
posted by Ollie at 11:16 AM on December 22, 2011
posted by Ollie at 11:16 AM on December 22, 2011
Best answer: Aha, Italian! Could it have been Petrarch's Ascent of Mount Ventoux? In about 1350 he climbed it (possibly; it could all be a metaphor) with his brother, and he reflects on 'the waste of his earthly love for Laura.'
posted by emyd at 8:50 PM on December 22, 2011
posted by emyd at 8:50 PM on December 22, 2011
Response by poster: Yes yes! That's it, thank you! I love Metafilter. I'm going to climb a mountain and reflect on that.
posted by Ollie at 4:42 AM on December 23, 2011
posted by Ollie at 4:42 AM on December 23, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by emyd at 7:35 AM on December 22, 2011