I first read it, following it as calendar, month by
month, reading lots of his other in between.
His publishers, taylor & Hessey, hving found his
work to be poor in sales, tried to turn him ito
Wordsworthian reflectiveness. So the lines are in
part derived from other models--Keats (Hyperion),
even Crabbe, whom Clare effected to despise. Lots
of echoes all through.
And, of course, there's Taylor's editing, which denied
the audience the full strike of J. C.'s recall of past
village/rural custom's--and of the complete reach
of his language. Dress him up rough as a green man...
--Gerald S.
>I am trying to read 'The Shepherd's Calendar' i
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> s it just me?(as usual!)I find it fascinating -the wonderful images
> knowledge
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> but impossible to read -the short lines the rhyming couplets all so dense
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> Perhaps to read not more than a page a day??
>
> Patrick
>
> I did enjoy the words in the glossary
>
> Patrick crizzled edding crimpling lushing soodling
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