You know, I think you’ve persuaded me! I think Yeats is a bit guilty of being overwrought at times, and I am a walking case of only having read those works of Eliot’s for which he is most celebrated. Am tempted by those completed works of Auden you mention up top now!
I would recommended the earlier Collected Poems, which is a slightly more affordable edition and has all the good stuff, if you're looking for a starting place. Or the collection "Another Time" which must be one of the best (*the* best?) of the twentieth century. For Eliot, if you don't know the Ricks edition, it's a must!
Also, as an aside - if you have the time, it would be amazing to feature a guest post from yourself on The Books That Made Us at some point. It’s a sort of community-based substack that features a different guest writer each week discussing a book that made them who they are today. Would love to hear your take and very welcome to cross-post to The Common Reader to get two bits of content in one. Good chance to get your Substack in front of another 1700 readers too!
Excellent stuff. I love Auden, and I agree with you that Larkin is his only rival.
But I do think you ought to give more credit to Larkin: do you really think Larkin "saw so little" of life? His achievement might have been greater because he was so perceptive about the important things (love, death, disappointment) without ever having to leave his tiny flats. And is it really fair to say that he "wanted to get away from tradition"? Larkin clearly saw himself in company with Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and many others, including Auden.
I only mean that Auden travelled and Larkin didn’t. Certainty he saw a lot from his chair. Perhaps I overstated. Larkin wanted to get away from the myth kitty and all the trappings of poetry. What did Kingsley Amis say? No more poetry about poetry. Agree. Perhaps his closest rival was Housman, certainly commercially.
Vast is another way of saying diffuse. Read all of Eliot’s verse—it will take no longer than an evening. Then try all of Auden’s. Many gems, much brilliance. But vast amounts of dross. Turgid Freudian apologia, banal Schopenhauer-meets Shakespeare soliloquies…. The ratio of good to bad is maybe 1:2. Eliot (or Larkin for that matter—also a greater poet) didn’t take many cuts at the plate, but when he did he usually got a hit—and often drove it out of the park.
The best of Eliot is better than the best of Auden. The worst of Auden is worse than the worst of Eliot. What did Auden call himself—“a minor transatlantic Goethe?”
Another Time. It's such a good collection, easy to navigate, many hits. Will give you a sense of if you want more or not. Also listen to him on YouTube or Poetry Archive.
Loved this piece. I shamefacedly admit that though I've heard of Auden, I've never actually read his works proper. Thanks for rekindling my interest!
You know, I think you’ve persuaded me! I think Yeats is a bit guilty of being overwrought at times, and I am a walking case of only having read those works of Eliot’s for which he is most celebrated. Am tempted by those completed works of Auden you mention up top now!
I would recommended the earlier Collected Poems, which is a slightly more affordable edition and has all the good stuff, if you're looking for a starting place. Or the collection "Another Time" which must be one of the best (*the* best?) of the twentieth century. For Eliot, if you don't know the Ricks edition, it's a must!
Also, as an aside - if you have the time, it would be amazing to feature a guest post from yourself on The Books That Made Us at some point. It’s a sort of community-based substack that features a different guest writer each week discussing a book that made them who they are today. Would love to hear your take and very welcome to cross-post to The Common Reader to get two bits of content in one. Good chance to get your Substack in front of another 1700 readers too!
Details are here if you’re interested:
https://booksthatmadeus.substack.com/p/write-for-us
I'd love to! Thank you for asking. Will fill in you form later on.
Amazing, thank you!
Thanks so much, Henry!
Excellent stuff. I love Auden, and I agree with you that Larkin is his only rival.
But I do think you ought to give more credit to Larkin: do you really think Larkin "saw so little" of life? His achievement might have been greater because he was so perceptive about the important things (love, death, disappointment) without ever having to leave his tiny flats. And is it really fair to say that he "wanted to get away from tradition"? Larkin clearly saw himself in company with Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and many others, including Auden.
You might enjoy this about Larkin: https://commonreader.substack.com/p/philip-larkin-poet-of-the-almost
Thank you! I like it a lot!
I only mean that Auden travelled and Larkin didn’t. Certainty he saw a lot from his chair. Perhaps I overstated. Larkin wanted to get away from the myth kitty and all the trappings of poetry. What did Kingsley Amis say? No more poetry about poetry. Agree. Perhaps his closest rival was Housman, certainly commercially.
Vast is another way of saying diffuse. Read all of Eliot’s verse—it will take no longer than an evening. Then try all of Auden’s. Many gems, much brilliance. But vast amounts of dross. Turgid Freudian apologia, banal Schopenhauer-meets Shakespeare soliloquies…. The ratio of good to bad is maybe 1:2. Eliot (or Larkin for that matter—also a greater poet) didn’t take many cuts at the plate, but when he did he usually got a hit—and often drove it out of the park.
The ratio isn't the measure of a great writer. And Eliot also full of dross, much too much purple, sentimental stuff.
The best of Eliot is better than the best of Auden. The worst of Auden is worse than the worst of Eliot. What did Auden call himself—“a minor transatlantic Goethe?”
But if you were only going to buy one book?
Another Time. It's such a good collection, easy to navigate, many hits. Will give you a sense of if you want more or not. Also listen to him on YouTube or Poetry Archive.
Thanks Henry 👍