>I'm as ready to read and recognise Heaney as anyone; on his own
>terms he's fair enough to be sure, tho surely never as wonderful as the
>supporters' club wd suggest. Certainly, he's his own voice, and that
>counts for a lot...
Ric,
have you already recognised Heaney's worth and place in the scheme
of things, or are you still waiting - 'ready to recognise?'
> on his own terms he's fair enough to be sure
Of course, we're all fair enough (some of us would say amazing) on our
own terms. But it takes an objective distancing from the work to define
its value & longevity; the filterbag of the years. Heaney's been given
the ticket by readers all over the world. On their terms he's more than
fair enough. These readers amount to more than "a supporters' club".
That is loaded with provinciality. Heaney's readers are legion.
>Certainly, he's his own voice, and that counts for a lot...
I'd argue that it counts for everything. There are many poets who
never find a distinctive voice. They are polished, original,
yet their work remains a thistlebag of ecclectic seedlings.
Heaney's work has a voice-stamp, and whatever it is that arrests
our inner attention has proved to be influential and lasting.
Anthony
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