Shakespeare References in Natives And Exotics

Jane Alison’s novel Natives And Exotics contains a couple of Shakespeare references. The first is to The Tempest, with Alison using a phrase coined by Shakespeare in that play. Alison writes: “‘Thin air,’ said Mr. Peterson. He stopped and took a deep breath” (p. 58). Prospero’s lines are: “These our actors,/As I foretold you, were all spirits and/Are melted into air, into thin air.” The second reference is to Hamlet, with Alison writing, “‘Good night, sweet prince!’ they chorused back” (p. 215). That is a reference to Horatio’s famous lines, “Good night, sweet prince,/And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

Natives And Exotics was published in 2005. The copy I read is an uncorrected proof.