Yes a weird book to be sure. I think I?ve taken maybe four stabs at it over the years and got through it possibly twice. Accepting the suggestions of significant breakdown that press down on you as the book progresses the main thrust, I think, was that there were two significantly different ways of viewing the world ? romantic vs classical. It?s outlined in the Wiki link anyway. It?s probably quite an interesting idea, if I could get my head around it more fully.
I guess anyone on this forum will all fit within the same point of view.
His boy who accompanies him on the trip in the book was subsequently stabbed to death in his twenties. A troubled lad I think.