Thursday 17 June 2010

Who was that masked man?

So farewell then, Brigada Flores Magon, whose blog 'On a raised beach' has come to a sudden end. As I wrote on a similar occasion:
The disappearance of a blog, especially an anonymous or pseudonymous one, is rather like that final, unbelievably poignant scene in Philip Pullman's 'Dark Materials' trilogy. The portal between the two parallel worlds has to be sealed, never to be re-opened, and Will and Lyra realise that there is absolutely no way they can ever contact each other again.
A little melodramatic, perhaps, but there you go. It's particularly poignant when the blog is as good as this one was, and when you feel some affinity with the blogger concerned. Of course, I have no idea of Brigada's true identity, but I picked up some biographical hints that we might have in common: a Leavisite literary education, possibly at one of our older universities, and an early absorption in matters theological followed by a falling-out with religion and a turning to left-wing politics.

A couple of years ago, another anonymous blog with some similar characteristics - Freens' Scottish Wholesale Cooperative Republic - also disappeared without warning. I've often wondered: were Freens and Brigada actually the same person? We shall probably never know.

Anyway, if you're still out there, BFM, you should know that you'll be missed, and I hope that one day you'll consider making a comeback to the blogosphere, perhaps in some new pseudonymous guise.

While I'm here: I should apologise for neglecting this blog of late. Blame that damn Twitter. I shall endeavour to do better in the near future. Watch this space - and also Engage, where I'm hoping to submit a post soon on the latest twist in the flotilla saga.

5 comments:

TNC said...

I remember both of those blogs, especially Freens' Scottish Wholesale Cooperative Republic. It was one of the first blogs I checked out when I started blogging.

I read Brigada Flores Magon's comments more often than I checked (her/his) blog out. Nevertheless, they will both be missed by me as well.

Minnie said...

Too late - and your eloquent tribute makes me regretful. All I can say is that I really do hope whoever-it-is sees this post: it's a gesture of a kind many bloggers deserve, and few others are generous enough to bestow.

Imposs1904 said...

"were Freens and Brigada actually the same person? "

I'm pretty sure it was the same guy.

I share your sadness at his decision to push the delete button but I'm hopeful that he will be back.

KB Player said...

I'm sorry the Brigada has gone as well and I do wish he had left us some explanation - fed up with blogging? Busy doing other things? Blogs tend to die away rather than cut off entirely, don't they? But if I see a blog that I liked has disappeared I worry that the blogger might have become ill or something.

Bloggers should leave instructions for their next of kin that if they die there should be some statement made on their blog so that their readers aren't left wondering and can also make some tribute to them.

Brigada Flores Magon said...

mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa, ideo precor &c.....sincere apologies to you all and thank you all for the kind thoughts. Having got over a rough patch the blog is now back.