Pages 71-72

This page-by-page annotation is organized by sections, as delineated by the seven squares (sprockets) which separate each section. The page numbers for this page-by-page annotation are for the original Viking edition (760 pages). Editions by other publishers vary in pagination — the newer Penguin editions are 776 pages; the Bantam edition is 886 pages.

Contributors: Please use a 760-page edition (either the original Viking edition with the orange cover or the Penguin USA edition with the blue cover and rocket diagram — there are plenty on Ebay for around $10) or search the Google edition for the correct page number. Readers: To calculate the Bantam edition use this formula: Bantam page # x 1.165. Before p.50 it's about a page earlier; as you get later in the book, add a page.

Finally, profound thanks to Prof. Don Larsson for providing the foundation for this page-by-page annotation.

Page 71

71.27 "... von Bayros or Beardsley."
Marquis Franz von Bayros and Aubrey Beardsley were renowned for their erotic sketches in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Learn more about Beardsley and von Bayros

71.30 "... a De Mille set really..."
This is open to skepticism, but I believe he's referring to Cecil B. DeMille, who was famous for his construction of grandiose sets, particularly "The City of the Pharaoh," the largest set in film history.

Cecil B. Demille at Wikipedia.

Page 72

72.27 ...Wuotan and his mad army
Wuotan is the Old High German spelling of Odin; the 'mad army' is mentioned again at 75.13 in German as Wütende Heer. It is interesting that Pynchon chose to translate wütende as 'mad' rather than, say, 'angry' or 'furious', thus allowing the reader to take 'mad' to mean 'insane'. On the other hand, the disease rabies is called "Tollwut" in German, so "Wut" may not ring as a totally sane kind of rage.

72.32 Was tust du für die Front, für den sieg? Was has du heute für Deutschland getan?
What are you doing for the front, for the victory? What have you done for Germany today?
Also see ThomasPynchon.com for lots of GR translations.