Sorry - in that last sentence of mine read 'encountered' for
'encountering' -
another day of this and I'll be writing total gibberish.
> You've misunderstood me. I haven't ever encountering a piece of your
> critical writing which was in praise of any poetry, and so I don't yet
> know whether I'd dislike it. You may believe that dismissing huge swathes
> of poetry is the best defence for the kind of writing you genuinely
> admire, but I think the strategy is mistaken, and only backfires,
> Jamie
Jeff,
Within a forum like this I understand that detailed argument is hard to
present. But it's a constraint we're all under. I've mentioned about a dozen
or more poets (C19th and C20th who I don't think fit your thesis) and you've
mentioned , as far as I recall, none who do. Lists are just chat which has
an eerie permanence, and I can see why there should be a proper reluctance
to "name names" - personally I wouldn't want to use the medium to criticize
other poets, though I'd feel permitted to do so in the context of a review.
But after all it's not such a terrible insult to say 'x' has been influenced
by 'y', particularly if 'y' happens to be a great poet.
You say "It is really his admirers that I am critical of, or rather those
admirers that have embraced him to such an extent that his influence is now
supreme."
Here for example you could suggest some further reading, just a few
names. - Because I share Peter's confusion on this point, and warm to his
idea that more of this influence might not be a bad thing.
Let me start you off. There's obviously Heaney who is steeped in
Wordsworth - but I think that topic has been explored enough between us and
on this list. Elizabeth Bishop ironically described herself as something
like "a minor twentieth-century female Wordsworthian" - I can't recall the
exact quote. I imagine you'd hate her poems and anyway she's not UK. Peter,
I think it was, mentioned Prynne in this context. But apart from them, if
you are "critical of " his admirers you must have someone in mind or else
you'd just be firing at a blank target? I confess that among most
contemporary poets I know I've barely heard a single reference to
Wordsworth, and can see little sign of his influence, good or bad.
If you don't want to pursue this question, that's fine by me - you could
always post a more detailed and more closely argued piece on your blog.
Best wishes,
Jamie
Jamie,
It is very difficult for me in the context of a forum to present a detailed
argument for my position regarding Wordsworth's influence on UK
poetry. That's why I suggested an email exchange, where I can send
you articles and chapters I have written by email attachment. This can't
be done on a forum for obvious reasons.
My gripe with Wordwsworth is not so much that I don't like his poetry,
but that he is taken so seriously. It is really his admirers that I am
critical of, or rather those admirers that have embraced him to such an
extent that his influence is now supreme.
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