Deciphering Ezra Pound

The title of this thread might make it seem as though I am aspiring to understand one of his poems, but the real issue I am faced with is the deciphering of his character, and the way he is percieved today in society.

Searching for some info on this prominant name in literature, via internet mostly, I gather that his personal history (being prosecuted for treason and many more debocles) might give his reputation a negative view, and yet the way he was esteemed by fellow authors such as Hemingway (and his works of course), might move the scales and put him in the spot of literary genius.

Being very unacquainted with this character I would enjoy to hear the views you have on Mr. Pound.

Hi Fenwick I am read of some of his poetry which I found quite clean in a simple but effective way. His style is almost childlike but in a clever way.
May I first ask which poem are you reading of him?

From what I understand, despite being a prolific poet, he's lauded more as a sort of literary facilitator than as an actual writer. He played a major part in the development of Modernism and Imagism. Arguably he is most famous for editing Eliot's Wasteland, but what he did went beyond mere editing and I'd say that in many ways he comes close to being a co-creator. His own magnum opus, his Cantos, are incredibly obscure and difficult to understand and, as a result, they don't seem to be read that often.

Hemingway wrote that

"He defends [his friends] when they are attacked, he gets them into magazines and out of jail. ... He writes articles about them. He introduces them to wealthy women. He gets publishers to take their books. He sits up all night with them when they claim to be dying ... he advances them hospital expenses and dissuades them from suicide."

which would explain why they all stuck up for him after he was arrested for treason.

Thanks for the info!

Cacian I haven't read any of his poems actually, I'm just interested to see whether he has any appeal to me, I prefer to acquaint myself with the biographies of authors before I start reading and exploring their works, in order to get some context and background.

MementoMori that does work out with what I suspected, I have read that his Cantos is his most well known work, and yet it does not seem as distinguished amongst modern literary works nowadays. I didn't know that he edited Eliot's Wasteland (which I have not read but is on my must-read mental list) thanks.

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Originally Posted by FenwickS

Thanks for the info!

Cacian I haven't read any of his poems actually, I'm just interested to see whether he has any appeal to me, I prefer to acquaint myself with the biographies of authors before I start reading and exploring their works, in order to get some context and background.

MementoMori that does work out with what I suspected, I have read that his Cantos is his most well known work, and yet it does not seem as distinguished amongst modern literary works nowadays. I didn't know that he edited Eliot's Wasteland (which I have not read but is on my must-read mental list) thanks.

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Your reply is interesting. I usually do it the other way around I tend to go for the work. I am interested in the expressions rather then the reality with the exception of the few of course.
I guess whatever is written about Pound must be taken lightly. A lot of what is written might well not be true. For all we know he might not have been what google or others claim he was. One must be careful to judge just because others make claim against him.
I think for me sometimes the content of what one writes and how it is written can tell you a lot about the personality of the writer. It is a question of getting to know what is behind the content and what the writer writes about. Just an idea.

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Originally Posted by FenwickS

The title of this thread might make it seem as though I am aspiring to understand one of his poems, but the real issue I am faced with is the deciphering of his character, and the way he is percieved today in society.

Searching for some info on this prominant name in literature, via internet mostly, I gather that his personal history (being prosecuted for treason and many more debocles) might give his reputation a negative view, and yet the way he was esteemed by fellow authors such as Hemingway (and his works of course), might move the scales and put him in the spot of literary genius.

Being very unacquainted with this character I would enjoy to hear the views you have on Mr. Pound.

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Clarity is the sole morality of art. ~ Ezra Pound

Unfortunately, Mussolini was a very clear arcehole.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FenwickS

MementoMori that does work out with what I suspected, I have read that his Cantos is his most well known work, and yet it does not seem as distinguished amongst modern literary works nowadays. I didn't know that he edited Eliot's Wasteland (which I have not read but is on my must-read mental list) thanks.

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I would say his most well known work is "In a Station of the Metro," along with his other early, shorter poems that appeared in Poetry. His "translations" are also widely read. It is nearly impossible to study Modernist poetry in English without reading early Pound, or at least it should be impossible.

The Cantos are nearly ignored except by Pound specialists, or the very dedicated admirers of his poetry, willing to work their way through them.

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Originally Posted by cacian

Your reply is interesting. I usually do it the other way around I tend to go for the work. I am interested in the expressions rather then the reality with the exception of the few of course.
I guess whatever is written about Pound must be taken lightly. A lot of what is written might well not be true. For all we know he might not have been what google or others claim he was. One must be careful to judge just because others make claim against him.
I think for me sometimes the content of what one writes and how it is written can tell you a lot about the personality of the writer. It is a question of getting to know what is behind the content and what the writer writes about. Just an idea.

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I am well aware that not everything one reads on the internet might be true, and yet getting a background just sorta helps (social norms, censureship etc.), ergo the discussion of what comes first (the Poet reflecting his works reflecting the poet) is a matter of chicken vs. egg, and combining them both gives you, in my opinion, a broad spectrum of interpretations you may have for the poet/piece. Therefore I was interested in some background info and after I'll read some of his works (if I in fact do) than I still can look forward to my analyzations of the poets nature, its influence on his works and so on....