i: six nonlectures

by e e cummings ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 12, 1953

Six pert, provocative and often brilliant lectures, delivered at Harvard under the auspices of the Charles Eliot Norton professorship by the man many consider America's best living lyrical poet. Are these lectures unconventional? Egocentric? Saucy? The answer is yes, and the lecturer accepts the mild impeachment, and by his title proclaims they are not lectures at all. Their subject matter? e e cummings, in his role as poet and his poetic creed of feeling against knowing, intuition against scientific measurement, life against death, process against success. He draws enchanting brief word portraits. He inserts fine poems of his own, wonderfully wrought metaphysical sonnets, a virtual anthology of favorite love verse. Some of his weaknesses appear:- the split in his nature which make him seem to walk a tightrope but from which springs some of his inimitable poetry. For a limited but enthusiastic audience.

Pub Date: Nov. 12, 1953

ISBN: 0674440102

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harvard Univ. Press

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1953

Categories: NONFICTION