He was also a great gardener, primarily of vegetables. He loved them...the technical differences, of sowing time, depth & nature of their favourite soil, best time to harvest each one. I once edited a book of unlikely enthusiasms and John contributed an essay on veg growing, and was especially eloquent on that disgusting vegetable, the parsnip. It is a work of literary art, that piece, and almost persuaded me that I might enjoy eating a parsnip after all.
I'd add only that he was, too, a brilliant teacher. I had John as a tutor for a term, then for several years as a supervisor for my post-graduate thesis: meticulous, attentive, warmly encouraging while necessarily critical, he was wonderfully supportive - and, as we heard in his lectures or read in his books, gleefully hilarious when he wanted to be. I always looked forward to time spent with him.
The last time I met him was at a fundraising event at Merton for former Philosophy and English students. He advanced the case that we must all support the Humanities for as long as humankind is the only species capable of declaring war upon itself.
He was also a keen beekeeper. I once sent him a poem called 'Bees of Arabia' about the wild honey sellers you find beside roads in the middle of the desert.
In his kind reply, he explained that bees can forage nectar for up to 3 miles, concluding with characteristic pragmatism that "choosing a desolate spot for the hives may be deliberate. If you site them near habitation, people get stung."
Just finished the Unexpected Professor. Fascinating. What a way with words and so clearly and intelligently written. As well as full to the brim with brilliant snippets and anecdotes. Must read more Milton. And Arnold. And try Zola!
He was also a great gardener, primarily of vegetables. He loved them...the technical differences, of sowing time, depth & nature of their favourite soil, best time to harvest each one. I once edited a book of unlikely enthusiasms and John contributed an essay on veg growing, and was especially eloquent on that disgusting vegetable, the parsnip. It is a work of literary art, that piece, and almost persuaded me that I might enjoy eating a parsnip after all.
I think that piece is collected in his book of journalism? I agree, it's splendid writing.
I'd add only that he was, too, a brilliant teacher. I had John as a tutor for a term, then for several years as a supervisor for my post-graduate thesis: meticulous, attentive, warmly encouraging while necessarily critical, he was wonderfully supportive - and, as we heard in his lectures or read in his books, gleefully hilarious when he wanted to be. I always looked forward to time spent with him.
The last time I met him was at a fundraising event at Merton for former Philosophy and English students. He advanced the case that we must all support the Humanities for as long as humankind is the only species capable of declaring war upon itself.
He was also a keen beekeeper. I once sent him a poem called 'Bees of Arabia' about the wild honey sellers you find beside roads in the middle of the desert.
In his kind reply, he explained that bees can forage nectar for up to 3 miles, concluding with characteristic pragmatism that "choosing a desolate spot for the hives may be deliberate. If you site them near habitation, people get stung."
I don't know anything about literary criticism, but I suspect the mark of a great critic is that they think deeply and seriously about bees.
Though I'm pretty sure bees do declare war on each other, albeit not in so many words.
“the world is his prey and he runs it down rapturously” is the sort of pun that Donne himself would have enjoyed.
yes exactly
A thoughtful intellectual figure, the kind that always intrigues me.
He was great
Blimey, a faculty of John Bayley, Richard Ellmann and John Carey, that is dream team level stuff.
Yesssss
Just finished the Unexpected Professor. Fascinating. What a way with words and so clearly and intelligently written. As well as full to the brim with brilliant snippets and anecdotes. Must read more Milton. And Arnold. And try Zola!
Good post. You may be interested to know that De Doctrina Christiana is very likely not Milton’s, according to the latest stylometric research: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358081521_De_Doctrina_Christiana_and_Milton's_Canonical_Works_Revisiting_the_Authorship_Question
Very interesting thank you
I didn't know that. V pleased
Did he write "What Good Are The Arts?"
It was hilarious.