A Week in a Country
Orsinia is one of the fictional countries in Eastern Europe. They were once part of Austria-Hungary, its inhabitants rebelled unsuccessfully against the Habsburg family. They separated during the Great War, ending up as satellite states of the East Bloc. There were regions in Central Europe, which were administrative divisions of the Habsburg Monarchy. Bukovina, which was divided between Romania and Ukraine, was once an independent entity during the twentieth century. In fact, there were writers from that region who expressed their bewilderment on their change of fortune. One was a so-called nobleman who wished not to be named, who swore his loyalty to the Habsburg until the very end. He was a Jew, but he wouldn't know where. He was clinging to the memories of Bukovina, which was in a precarious state during its final years. (The Balkans have been known to be a turbulent region.) Ursula K. Le Guin, on the other hand, thought about utopia.
"Orsinian Tales", published in 1976, was a collection of short stories set in Orsinia. But readers couldn't tell if the chain of events took place in Eastern Europe. The architectural designs in one story would point to London, while another one might be Asia Minor. A tell-tale sign would be the romantic aspects of the Middle Age. Some would scratch their heads, as this was a dark period. The Roman Empire disintegrated, and then different tribes from the northern regions moved and settled there. And Christianity found its way. This led to the Renaissance. Hellenism and magic would merge, which the American depicted in her stories. Here are some samples:
The Fountain. Dr. Adam Kereth was in Paris for an academic meeting, but the graduate students distracted him. The artworks and landmarks reminded him of his beloved homeland. Could it be the City of Lights? Possibly. After all, there weren't many kingdoms back then. Dr. Kereth thought of becoming a political asylum, which would confuse readers. Was he daydreaming? Perhaps not. Orsinia was non-existent, and he was homesick. He might not have the same feeling in the other cities.
The Barrow. Le Guin didn't indicate the year, but the first few pages would hint of the Middle Age. And this part of Orsinia recently embraced Christianity. One character dismissed the achievements of Alexander the Great, prompting readers to believe this was northern Greece. There was no mention of garlic and crosses, but they were alarmed at the description of a sacrificial table. It reminded them of Mesoamerican civilizations, but there was much to learn about Eastern Europe. And the author knew something.
Imaginary Countries. It was a nostalgic look at the past, when Asgard could be reached within a day. A middle-aged man was on a train, reminiscing happy memories with his family. The one he had in mind happened during the last days of August. It was the time of the year when many families (in Europe) would go on a holiday. His folks decided to stay, recalling the books they read together. Those were the days, which would leave the man with a bittersweet feeling. Readers might want to try it.
