Caesar, Orwell and Tolkien follow the Figes example

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We don't often publish unvarnished links here. But it is good to know that the Figes affair has created some imaginative responses as well as bad blood.  Check this out from the excellent Martin Levin of The Globe and Mail, Toronto.

Comments

[Oliver Nicholson]

There was an advertisement for the Lord of the Rings film which said "There are Schools for Wizards - and then there is the Real Thing".

[Judith Fitzgerald]

Hello, Sir Peter, Fave Hi-Pri Spy Guy :) . . .

Have I told you lately I adore you?

But, heh, why am I not surprised you would unvarnishedly delight in Martin's inspired and fanciful full-fledged imaginary flight?

Maybe because great minds soar alike to one non-stop direct-to-the-top ne-plus-ultra literaerial height?

IOW? Although I have been very quiet and very restrained; and, well, good (for me :)), I see your newest book, _On the Spartacus Road: A Spectacular Journey through Ancient Italy_, wows 'em in the aisles (which surprises me not at all) . . . BIG SMILES!

Loved the review in _The Scotsman_; and, when _OtSR_ appears here in pb, guess who will be in line to acquire her very own copy?

Knew you'd been through H, E, double hockey sticks — Sowwy, it's the season, same as it gets batty over there when Cricket's on the minds of millions around our little glow-ball — with personal triumph over both physical and psychic challenges; but, from what I've read, you've transformed and transcended the same-ol' lame-ol' memoir form into something astonishingly vibrant, vital, and inexpressibly moving, too (from your always generous yet wryly humourous circumspect point of view).

Now, *that* is grand on /for us (but par for you) . . . Can one of your most shameless admirers say she's proud of you? (Well, never mind, I just did, anyway . . . Sigh . . . what'cha gonna do?)

K. Still reading along and enjoying DPS and the gang — Must say, am very curious about what Mr. Limerickster Extraordinaire shall bestow upon us for post-election fare :).

The whole world's watching! In fact, it's our top story this morning, BION. Too close to call; but, I hope, whoever takes up residence in Downing Street, it's the right man for us all.

Heh, purty diplomatic, weren't that, all things considered and the way some of 'em go licketty-splat?

Kudos, though, to YOU, firstmost, foremost, lastmost, and topmost, too (not to mention thank you for all you are and continue to so intrepidly do).

p.s. Hi, Goddess MB!
p.p.s. Now, I'm gonna go all swaggadocio over @ The Globe going braggadocio about what you said about Levin (who prolly doesn't know yet)
p.p.s. See? I might not tappy-tip much; but, when I do, I sure make up for it, eh? LOL!
--
http://www.judithfitzgerald.ca/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/

[Private note just for you, Sir PS: I had to change my email to the one on this comment but it's confidential except you and terrif TLS crew; and, did Mary tell you how high Mick Imlah's book ranked on our top-twealth poetry books 1999-2009? Hope so . . . If not, let me know and I will send the link to you.]

[Shelley]

Hmm. I can't say that I leave my readers awed, humbled yet uplifted, so perhaps I'm not qualified to comment. Yet my first reaction is that trashing others' work, not praising his own, is the central sin here.

The great gray Walt wrote puff-pieces for himself; in his case, considering the poetry criticism of his times, I can hardly blame him.