I have *totally* been thinking a lot lately about what I would do in Fritz's shoes, in general. And even without the abusive family...so remember his Vorleser ("reader"), Henri de Catt? (He had other readers at different times, but Catt's the one who wrote famous memoirs.) In the foreword to the English translation of memoirs, Catt is described as more of a "listener" than a "reader". To which my reaction is always, "Oh, man, if I were an absolute monarch, I would so pay someone to be my listener!"
Then I realized I don't even need the absolute power. I've already offered the position of "listener", under a different job title, to one of my friends, who said he would gladly consider it as soon as he finishes his PhD (which he's in his 17th year of, so I don't consider it likely, but there you go). I've since had to retract the offer since my health deteriorated to the point of not being able to work full time, but just last week I was telling him that as soon as I can find an effective treatment, I'm going to open the offer again.
SO YES. In Fritz's shoes, I would absolutely have employed a "listener" and called it something else, hahaha. And I'm not musically inclined, but when I commissioned literature, it would be like Yuletide, except following the detailed list of preferences in the requester's letters would be mandatory. :PP
Re: Fredersdorf
I have *totally* been thinking a lot lately about what I would do in Fritz's shoes, in general. And even without the abusive family...so remember his Vorleser ("reader"), Henri de Catt? (He had other readers at different times, but Catt's the one who wrote famous memoirs.) In the foreword to the English translation of memoirs, Catt is described as more of a "listener" than a "reader". To which my reaction is always, "Oh, man, if I were an absolute monarch, I would so pay someone to be my listener!"
Then I realized I don't even need the absolute power. I've already offered the position of "listener", under a different job title, to one of my friends, who said he would gladly consider it as soon as he finishes his PhD (which he's in his 17th year of, so I don't consider it likely, but there you go). I've since had to retract the offer since my health deteriorated to the point of not being able to work full time, but just last week I was telling him that as soon as I can find an effective treatment, I'm going to open the offer again.
SO YES. In Fritz's shoes, I would absolutely have employed a "listener" and called it something else, hahaha. And I'm not musically inclined, but when I commissioned literature, it would be like Yuletide, except following the detailed list of preferences in the requester's letters would be mandatory. :PP
So Fritz,
(Can you imagine Voltaire in Fritz's shoes?)