Antonio Mcgowan
Jitterbug Perfume, written by renowned American author Tom Robbins, is a novel that takes readers on an epic journey through time and space. The book follows two interweaving storylines, one in Ancient Eurasia/Bohemia and one in the present day, connecting the quests of various perfumers to a bottle of incomparable perfume that holds the secret essence of the universe. With its colourful, eccentric, and unforgettable characters, Jitterbug Perfume blends genres and celebrates the joy of individual expression and self-reliance. But is it a psychedelic novel?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | "Seriocomedies" (Comedy-drama), Fantasy, Humor, Magical Realism, Epic |
| Themes | Scent, Floral consciousness, Immortality, Love, Desire, Human experience |
| Setting | Ancient Eurasia/Bohemia, Present-day New Orleans, Paris, Seattle |
| Plot | Interweaving storylines, connecting perfume, immortality, and the quest for the secret essence of the universe |
| Style | Lyrical, Witty, Genre-blending, Philosophical, Social commentary |
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What You'll Learn
Jitterbug Perfume's themes of scent and consciousness
Jitterbug Perfume, Tom Robbins' fourth novel, features two interweaving storylines, one in Ancient Eurasia and one in the present day. The novel explores themes of scent, consciousness, and immortality through its dual narrative structure.
In one storyline, set in the present day, various perfumers in Seattle, Paris, and New Orleans are attempting to create a scent that will outdo their competitors. This includes Madame Devalier in New Orleans, her adopted daughter Priscilla in Seattle, and the LeFever company in Paris. The quest for the perfect scent drives the characters to explore new ingredients and techniques, pushing the boundaries of scent creation.
In the other storyline, set in Ancient Eurasia, King Alobar, a Dark Ages hero, embarks on a journey to escape death and achieve immortality. Along the way, he meets a widow named Kudra, and together, they discover the secrets of immortality through the intervention of the god Pan. They learn to capture the essence of immortality in a bottled liquid form, creating a perfume that becomes a central element connecting the two storylines.
The theme of scent in the novel is explored through the creation of perfumes and the power of smell to evoke emotions and memories. The sense of smell is used creatively to propel the narrative and develop the characters' journeys. The use of beets as a metaphor is particularly notable, revealing the depth and creativity of Robbins' writing.
The concept of consciousness, specifically "floral consciousness," is introduced through the character of Marcel LeFever, who explores the evolution of a new consciousness in his perfume creations. As the storylines converge, Alobar's time-travelling provides an evolutionary link to this floral consciousness, blending new-age theory with flower-power rhetoric.
Overall, the themes of scent and consciousness in Jitterbug Perfume are intricately woven into the narrative, enhancing the magical and epic qualities of the story and highlighting the imaginative and whimsical nature of Robbins' writing.
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The novel's exploration of immortality
Jitterbug Perfume, a novel by Tom Robbins, explores the theme of immortality through its two interweaving storylines. One storyline is set in Ancient Eurasia, where a powerful 8th-century king named Alobar flees his kingdom after narrowly escaping regicide at the hands of his subjects, who follow the custom of killing their leader at the first sign of aging. No longer a king, Alobar embarks on a quest for the secret to longevity, eventually reaching India, where he meets a widow named Kudra. Both Alobar and Kudra are in flight from Death and, through the intervention of the god Pan, they achieve immortality and learn to capture it in bottled liquid form.
In the present-day storyline, Priscilla, a part-time waitress and amateur perfumer in Seattle, attempts to recreate a fragrance from the last remaining drops of a three-hundred-year-old perfume bottle in her possession. She begins an affair with an eccentric Irish philosopher, Wiggs Dannyboy, who runs a clinic for immortality research called the Last Laugh Foundation. In New Orleans, Priscilla's stepmother, Madame Devalier, is also working to recreate the same fragrance as Priscilla with the help of her protégé, V'lu. Meanwhile, in Paris, Claude and Marcel LeFever of the LeFever Parfumerie are working on their new scent with a synthetic base.
The two plot strands eventually link up as Alobar time-travels to the present, providing the evolutionary missing link to "floral consciousness". He teams up with Dr. Wiggs Dannyboy, who adds a bit of new-age theory to the flower-power rhetoric. The past and the present collide when the characters come together and discover an unexpected path to life-everlasting.
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The role of beets as a metaphor
In Tom Robbins' novel Jitterbug Perfume, beets are used as a metaphor for passion and desire. The novel follows two interweaving storylines, one in Ancient Eurasia and one in the present day, connecting the journeys of perfumers in Seattle, Paris, and New Orleans to a bottle of incomparable perfume created by two unlikely lovers from the past who seek immortality.
In the present-day storyline, Priscilla, a part-time waitress and amateur perfumer, receives mysterious deliveries of beets at her apartment. She is attempting to recreate a fragrance from the last remaining drops of a three-hundred-year-old perfume bottle in her possession. The beets symbolize the passion and intensity of her pursuit of this goal, as well as the underlying desire for immortality that drives the characters in the novel.
In Ancient Eurasia, the story of Alobar and Kudra, two lovers who achieve immortality and create a perfume with a base of sugar beet pollen, further emphasizes the role of beets as a metaphor. The sugar beet pollen represents the intensity and passion of their love, which is so strong that it allows them to achieve immortality and create a powerful perfume.
The use of beets as a metaphor in Jitterbug Perfume is subtle yet profound. It adds depth to the characters' motivations and underscores the theme of the pursuit of immortality, which is a central element of the novel. The metaphorical use of beets is an example of Robbins' creative and practical use of the sense of smell to propel the themes of the novel.
Overall, the beets in Jitterbug Perfume serve as a powerful symbol of the intensity and passion that drive the characters in their pursuit of immortality and the creation of an unforgettable perfume.
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Time and space in the narrative
"Time and space in the narrative" is a fitting description of Tom Robbins' novel, Jitterbug Perfume. The book follows two interweaving storylines, one in Ancient Eurasia/Bohemia and one in the present day, connecting characters across time and space through their shared quest for immortality.
The novel begins in the forests of ancient Bohemia, where a group of beet farmers worship the goddess Pan. Here, we are introduced to the central character, Alobar, a king turned janitor in search of immortality. Alobar's journey takes him through Eurasia, where he encounters the mysterious Bandaloop Doctors and learns immortalist practices. He meets Kudra, an Indian woman who becomes his companion, and together they open a perfume shop in 17th-century Paris.
In the present day, we meet Priscilla, a part-time waitress and amateur perfumer in Seattle. She possesses a three-hundred-year-old perfume bottle and is determined to recreate its fragrance, believing it holds the key to unlocking a deeper understanding of life. Priscilla's stepmother, Madame Devalier, is a perfumer in New Orleans who is also working to recreate the same fragrance. They both receive premium Jamaican jasmine from the quirky supplier Bingo Pajama.
As the story progresses, the past and the present collide when Alobar time-travels to the present and teams up with Dr. Wiggs Dannyboy, an eccentric Irish philosopher who runs a clinic for immortality research. Priscilla also begins an affair with Wiggs, and together, they explore the mysteries of life, love, and the nature of reality.
Through its narrative structure, Jitterbug Perfume challenges traditional notions of time and space, presenting a world where the past and present are interconnected and where characters are able to move between different astral planes. The novel's epic journey through time and space adds to its fantastical and whimsical nature, captivating readers and inviting them to reflect on the mysteries of the universe and the nature of existence.
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The quest for the missing bottle
Jitterbug Perfume, written by Tom Robbins, is a novel that takes readers on an epic journey through time and space. The story begins in the forests of ancient Bohemia and concludes in present-day Paris. It is a saga with a hero—a janitor with a missing bottle.
The bottle is described as blue, very old, and embossed with the image of a goat-horned god. The liquid in the bottle is believed to be the secret essence of the universe. However, there is only a drop or two left, and the bottle is leaking, adding a sense of urgency to the quest. This quest for the missing bottle is not just a physical journey but also a philosophical one, as the characters grapple with the mysteries of the universe and the nature of existence.
In the present day, Priscilla, a part-time waitress and amateur perfumer, tries to recreate a fragrance from the last remaining drops in an ancient perfume bottle she possesses. She becomes involved with an eccentric Irish philosopher, Wiggs Dannyboy, who runs a clinic for immortality research. Meanwhile, in Ancient Eurasia, a powerful king named Alobar flees his kingdom after escaping regicide and embarks on a quest for longevity.
As the story unfolds, the past and the present collide. Alobar, now in the present, teams up with Dr. Wiggs Dannyboy, adding a new-age theory to the flower-power rhetoric. Together, they provide a link to ""floral consciousness." The quest for the missing bottle becomes a metaphor for the characters' search for meaning, immortality, and a deeper understanding of the world.
The novel's vibrant and eccentric characters bring the story to life, each with their unique goals and obsessions. Jitterbug Perfume blends genres, celebrating individual expression and self-reliance while exploring the human experience through love, desire, and the quest for knowledge.
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Frequently asked questions
Jitterbug Perfume is a novel by Tom Robbins that explores themes of scent, floral consciousness, and immortality. While it is not explicitly classified as a psychedelic novel, it does involve time travel and has been described as a "wild comic rip through eternity and beyond."
Jitterbug Perfume follows two interweaving storylines, one set in Ancient Eurasia/Bohemia and the other in the present day across various locations, including Seattle, Paris, and New Orleans. The novel centres around a quest for a missing bottle of perfume that holds the secret essence of the universe and is believed to grant immortality.
The novel has a large and exotic cast of characters, including a janitor named Alobar, a waitress named Priscilla, an eccentric perfumer named Madame Devalier, and a beet-obsessed millionaire named Wiggs Dannyboy, all of whom are interested in immortality and/or perfume.
Jitterbug Perfume explores various themes such as love, desire, religion, war, politics, family, marriage, sex, and the human experience. It also delves into the nature of reality and the search for meaning and immortality.
The title "Jitterbug Perfume" is a reference to the central plot device of the novel, which is the search for a missing bottle of perfume that holds mystical properties and is believed to be the secret essence of the universe. The term "jitterbug" adds a playful and whimsical element to the title.
