Nunquam

TUNC e NUNQUAM (1968 / 1970) — dois livros de Lawrence Durrell que constituem o primeiro e segundo andares de uma novela duplex: no Posfácio de "Nunquam", o autor observa que é uma novela em duas partes, - uma lição em que joga com uma certa noção de moral e cultura -, o "libreto da novela" baseado nas idéias do prefácio d'O Declínio do Ocidente' de Oswald Spengler. Freud também está nela e em grande dose [O mal-estar na Cultura, Psicologia das massas e Análise do Eu ...e outros textos].

Na epígrafe do segundo: "Aut Tunc, aut Nunquam" [aka] Era então ou nunca, do Satyricon de Petrônio, Cap. XLIV, 18. Que a experiência humana converte em "É sempre agora ou nunca..." O momento da escolha é sempre o agora; o momento atual e presente ordena o significado da nossa visão do Passado humano e histórico.
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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Revolt_of_Aphrodite
https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/98/09/13/specials/durrell-despair.html
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Tunc and Nunquam — The titles of the two novels which together are known as The Revolt of Aphrodite (1968 / 1970) are taken from the Satyricon of Gaius Petronius Arbiter, ch. 44, 18 — a Latin quotation familiar in translation - "It was then, or never".

By the end, "then or never" is abandoned by "It's always now or never". The vision of past altered by our present choices; the way in which the observer alters the thing he observes and is in turn altered by it. Durrell says "--since we are human and enjoy the fatality of choice. Indeed the moment of choice is always now." This fact is one which either you know or which you find out when you read the second (Nunquam), an action which generally makes Tunc rather clearer. . .

The Tunc / Nunquam "double-decker novel" is a profound achievement also, truly prophetic about the effects of technology on the individual and society. His character is an inventor, and the science he is involved with in this novel has either come to pass or is entirely credible in the context of the story. Amazing that Durrell's mind encompassed the scientific realm so successfully. It makes these two books even more relevant today, after we've seen the technological progress in the almost 30 years since they were written. The science adds a new dimension to the creativity of Durrell. All the other elements of his writing that have entranced us through the years are here too.

"Nunquam" remains a witty and intelligent satire of modern science. Despite the obscure humor and fascinating idiosyncrasies of it's characters, the subject matter is quite dark. It attempts a subtle warning against man's love-affair with technology.

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