After that she got to work, anointing him with civet and violet, magnolia and lily, narcissus and calembic, as well as drops of other occult fluids whose names he did not even like to ask, fluids extracted from the sap of Turkish, Cypriot and Chinese trees, as well as a wax from the intestines of a whale. By the time she had finished he was convinced he smelled like a cheap whorehouse, which was where he was, after all...
— From Extract: The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie (subtitled: The ancient arts of sex, scent and spin combine in an exclusive extract from Salman Rushdie's new novel) in the UK Times Online (link no longer active, sorry!), with thanks to Tania for the link.
At least he didn't smell like “a whorehouse on payday' which is what my mom used to say when I wore too much couture perfume, LOL!
This sounds like it might be an interesting novel from Rushdie.
Sounds like a good juicy read
LOL — great line!
I've kept this bit of the paper but haven't got around to reading it yet – sounds like I must! I loved Haroun too and this sounds as if it might be in the same vein. He sounds like he might know what he's talking about……
He does — wonder if he knows fragrance or did research…
This was great read Robin! I'm in for more:-)
Much prefer the quirky realism of Midnight's Children to Rushdie's new lit-porn, without a doubt. Yawn. But love all the references to fragrances! Thanks, R.
Oh, bah, more advice on how to seduce men, more stuff about courtesans – this time from that pompous oaf. *yawn* Some women are quite 'naturals' in that respect and don't need any help, do they?
I had tea with Salman Rushdie once, years ago, at the time of Midnight's Children (it was being published in French and the editor I'd worked with on other books was his now). He never stopped talking about himself (obviously) and I came out with the worst migraine I'd ever experienced. How such an unattractive and boring man can have such lovely women at his feet is proof of some women's stupidity, or it is cleverness? ('So what attracted you to this ugly, bald, famous, wealthy man, then?')
J! I never had to have tea s/ Salman Rushdie, nor do I know anything about the women at his feet, LOL — but I did like the 2 books I read 🙂
R, you're saying that based on this one excerpt, or have you read more about it? (I haven't)
This whole chapter was about the power of scents and Rushdie writes so fast, as if he hardly takes time to breathe..
What a disenchanting ending though.. when the power of scents had faded away.
Yes, good description — “hardly takes the time to breathe”.