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Literary
August 19, 1918
Hickory Daily Record
Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
Article discusses William Watson's complaint, quoted by Prof. William Lyon Phelps in the Bookman, about insufficient praise and sales for living English poets compared to Scott and Byron, except for Kipling. Phelps notes Kipling's genius and recent triumphs of poets like Noyes, Masefield, Gibson, De la Mare, Riley, and Brooke.
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LACK OF PRAISE FOR POETS
Complaint Is Registered That Insufficient Honor Is Bestowed Upon Living English Writers.
In an article in the Bookman on twentieth century English poetry, Prof. William Lyon Phelps quotes William Watson as complaining of the insufficient praise bestowed upon living poets and as saying that with one exception, meaning Kipling, there is not a single English poet the sales of whose poems would not have been thought contemptible by Scott and Byron. "With that one brilliant exception," says Watson, "England's living singers succeed in reaching only a pitiably small audience." In commenting on this passage, Professor Phelps says:
"We ought to remember that Scott and Byron were colossal figures, so big that no eye could miss them, and that the reason why Kipling has enjoyed substantial rewards is not because of his political views, nor because of his glorification of the British empire, but simply because of his literary genius. He is a brilliant and salient exception to the common run of poets, not merely in royalties, but in creative power.
Furthermore, shortly after this lecture was delivered Alfred Noyes and then John Masefield passed from city to city in America in a veritable march of triumph. Mr. Gibson and Mr. De la Mare received homage everywhere; 'Riley day' is now a legal holiday in Indiana; Rupert Brooke has been canonized."
Complaint Is Registered That Insufficient Honor Is Bestowed Upon Living English Writers.
In an article in the Bookman on twentieth century English poetry, Prof. William Lyon Phelps quotes William Watson as complaining of the insufficient praise bestowed upon living poets and as saying that with one exception, meaning Kipling, there is not a single English poet the sales of whose poems would not have been thought contemptible by Scott and Byron. "With that one brilliant exception," says Watson, "England's living singers succeed in reaching only a pitiably small audience." In commenting on this passage, Professor Phelps says:
"We ought to remember that Scott and Byron were colossal figures, so big that no eye could miss them, and that the reason why Kipling has enjoyed substantial rewards is not because of his political views, nor because of his glorification of the British empire, but simply because of his literary genius. He is a brilliant and salient exception to the common run of poets, not merely in royalties, but in creative power.
Furthermore, shortly after this lecture was delivered Alfred Noyes and then John Masefield passed from city to city in America in a veritable march of triumph. Mr. Gibson and Mr. De la Mare received homage everywhere; 'Riley day' is now a legal holiday in Indiana; Rupert Brooke has been canonized."
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What keywords are associated?
English Poets
Living Writers
Kipling Exception
Watson Complaint
Phelps Commentary
Poet Triumphs
Rupert Brooke
Literary Details
Title
Lack Of Praise For Poets
Subject
Complaint About Insufficient Honor For Living English Poets
Key Lines
With One Exception, Meaning Kipling, There Is Not A Single English Poet The Sales Of Whose Poems Would Not Have Been Thought Contemptible By Scott And Byron.
"With That One Brilliant Exception," Says Watson, "England's Living Singers Succeed In Reaching Only A Pitiably Small Audience."
He Is A Brilliant And Salient Exception To The Common Run Of Poets, Not Merely In Royalties, But In Creative Power.
Alfred Noyes And Then John Masefield Passed From City To City In America In A Veritable March Of Triumph.