The Baron's Return and the Grand Concert explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• The Marvelous and the Absurd

  The Colossus of Rhodes manipulates London landmarks into musical instruments, and Gog and Magog turn Windsor Castle into a drum.

• Satire of Politics and Society

  Lady Fragrantia's critique of Dr. Johnson's tour satirizes literary and social pretensions.

• Intertextuality and Literary Parody

  Direct parody of Johnson's 'Journey to the Western Islands' and references to Scottish songs and culture.

Characters to notice

• Baron Munchausen

  Returns to England and is celebrated; walks with Lady Fragrantia in the park.

• Colossus of Rhodes

  Comes to England to congratulate the Baron and helps construct the grand concert instruments.

• Gog

  Ordered to take the maiden tower of Windsor to make a tambourine.

• Magog

  Assists Gog in making the tambourine from Windsor's tower.

• Lady Fragrantia

  Walks with the Baron in the park, discusses spa waters, the Falls of Niagara, and criticizes Dr. Johnson's tour of the Hebrides.

Key passages

• “Having arrived in England once more, the greatest rejoicings were made for my return; the whole city seemed one general blaze of illumination, and the Colossus of Rhodes, hearing of my astonishing feats, came on purpose to England to congratulate me on such unparalleled achievements.”

  Upon returning to England, the Baron is greeted with city-wide celebrations, and the Colossus of Rhodes visits specifically to honor his incredible deeds.

  Describes the Baron's triumphant homecoming and the Colossus's tribute.

• “Gog and Magog were ordered to take the maiden tower of Windsor, and make a tambourine or great drum of it. For this purpose they extended an elephant’s hide, tanned and prepared for the design, across the summit of the tower, from parapet to parapet, so that in proportion this extended elephant’s hide was to the whole of the castle what the parchment is to a drum, in such a manner that the whole became one great instrument of war.”

  Gog and Magog transform Windsor Castle's tower into a giant drum by stretching an elephant hide across its top.

  Illustrates the absurd scale of the concert preparations.

• “Colossus took Guildhall and Westminster Abbey, and turning the foundations towards the heavens, so that the roofs of the edifices were upon the ground, he strung them across with brass and steel wire from side to side, and thus, when strung, they had the appearance of most noble dulcimers.”

  The Colossus upends Guildhall and Westminster Abbey, stringing them with wires to create dulcimers.

  Further exaggeration of the musical instruments made from London landmarks.

• “He then took the great dome of St. Paul’s, raising it off the earth with as much facility as you would a decanter of claret. And when once risen up it had the appearance of a quart bottle. Colossus instantly, with his teeth, cracked off the superior part of the cupola, and then applying his lips to the instrument, began to sound it like a trumpet.”

  The Colossus lifts St. Paul's dome like a bottle, bites off the top, and uses it as a trumpet.

  Highlights the fantastical and humorous manipulation of architecture.

• ““I like,” said she, “the dew of the morning, ’tis delicate and ethereal, and, by thus bespangling me, I think it will more approximate me to the nature of the rose [for her looks were like Aurora]; and to confirm the vermilion I shall go to Spa.””

  Lady Fragrantia enjoys the morning dew, believing it makes her more rose-like, and plans to visit Spa to enhance her complexion.

  Shows Fragrantia's affected and poetic sensibility.

• ““And what would you say, Fragrantia, if you were to write a tour to the Hebrides?” “Peace to the heroes,” replied she, in a delicate and theatrical tone; “peace to the heroes who sleep in the isle of Iona; the sons of the wave, and the chiefs of the dark-brown shield! The tear of the sympathising stranger is scattered by the wind over the hoary stones as she meditates sorrowfully on the times of old! Such could I say, sitting upon some druidical heap or tumulus. The fact is this, there is a right and wrong handle to everything, and there is more pleasure in thinking with pure nobility of heart than with the illiberal enmities and sarcasm of a blackguard.””

  Fragrantia imagines writing a sentimental, noble account of the Hebrides, contrasting it with Dr. Johnson's critical and sarcastic approach.

  Critique of Johnson's travel writing and advocacy for a more sympathetic perspective.