GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS

by Bernard Bergonzi ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1977

Bernard Bergonzi, who has previously written on T. S. Eliot, now takes a look at the Jesuit poet-priest, Gerard Manley Hopkins, in a loving and careful critical biography. Aside from a few genteel trips to the Continent, Fr. Hopkins' life was not outwardly eventful. His story is of religious conversions, philosophical wrestling, visits with his family in Hampstead, the transfer from one duty or parish to another, more or less agreeable; he died at forty-four. His mature style in poetry was growing more lean and plain. Had he lived, would he have been a different, perhaps greater, poet? The parallel question is, did the Jesuits muffle and smother a genius? Mr. Bergonzi thinks not, thinks that the discipline, study, Ignation meditation, formed rather than discouraged his talents. His last, critical chapter, ""Nearly Hard Poems' King"" (an anagram of Hopkins' name, discovered by Roy Fuller), is a serious study of the poetry, avoiding Scylla, Hopkins the Metaphysical poet, and Charybdis, Hopkins the mere Victorian. The first full-length work on Hopkins, and thus doubly welcome.

Pub Date: March 1, 1977

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1977

Categories: NONFICTION