Help with a sentence

Question

Hi everybody!I don't understand the meaning of this sentence: As for the autograph I can really find nothing to say about such an unlooked for distinction as the request of it.The sentence is written by a writer who's been asked for an autograph but my question is, Is the writer really unconcerned about being famous? or is she more surprised by the request of the autograph than by the autograph itself? I don't grasp the meaning, help!!!!Thanks

Nona the brit · Accepted Answer

This is a professional writer? Good grief!

I think she means that is (very badly) saying that she has no comment to make on being asked for an autograph. Although the pompous language makes me suspect that this comment was made for effect - she wants people to know she is asked for her autograph!

Davkett · Answer

Yikes!  Might this be a flawed translation of something originally written in a language other than English?  If this is grammatically correct, it's way over my head.  Nona the Brit does a valiant job of trying to figure out its meaning.  But, watch out, it might be from a really famous writer who we all love and adore, say... Mark Twain (yeh, I know--he's not a she).

MrPedantic · Answer

As for the autograph I can really find nothing to say about such an unlooked for distinction as the request of it.

It's a mild paradox. The writer is simultaneously saying:

a) being asked for her autograph is an unexpected honour;

b) she can find nothing to say about being asked for her autograph.

I don't think it's that bad. It has a faintly Jamesian air.

MrP

Dido · Answer

Mr P, your answer is very clear, I think that is what she meant to say but I wasn't sure. By the way, she was a pre-modernist writer but I don't remember her name.

Thanks!

Davkett · Answer

Yes MrP,

You live up to your own honorable reputation here. I, myself, have had to do a few mental cartwheels on this one to get it straightened out...luckless, without your guidance.

The honor (distinction) is in the request itself.

The speaker is not looking for the honor.

The speaker has nothing to say beyond that.

It's a [purposely] elliptical, though memorable, way of saying the more commonplace, and forgettable: 'It's an honor to be asked for an autograph, though I don't go around expecting to be asked.'

I'm less sure about a paradoxical quality in the thought, (although you've qualified that it is 'mild')...unless the paradox is: saying something in 'saying nothing'.

Help with a sentence

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions