Showing results by author "John Middleton Murry" in All Categories

Introductory Note: I have called these essays and lectures by a title that some people may think presumptuous: first, because it is the title of a book by Ben Jonson, and second, because it could be interpreted as meaning that I think there is something final in the results of these explorations of mine. For the first, I believe the fine ghost of Ben Jonson will forgive me. For the second, I do not believe there is anything final in criticism, But I wanted my title to contain a suggestion of the curious elation which criticism sometimes brings to me. " To me," I insist, because I subscribe ...

In this collection of essays and lectures, I embrace the title inspired by Ben Jonson, a nod to the literary giants of the past and a reminder that criticism is an ever-evolving journey. While some may see it as presumptuous, I believe that no exploration of literature yields final answers. Instead, these writings reflect my personal adventure through the world of books, capturing the elation that criticism can bring. Drawing on Anatole Frances notion that criticism is a deeply personal affair, I present my unique perspective, revealing how my beliefs and temperament shape my interpretations. ...

Was there ever love like this? If it truly existed, why has it remained untold in story or song? Or perhaps the lovers were silenced, their words like the nightingales melodies—beautiful, yet forever lost to mortal ears, until a new angelic voice lifts them into the heavens? This poetic drama unfolds the epic conflict between the forces of the Peppercorns and the Cloves, weaving a tale of love, war, and the timeless search for connection. - Summary by ToddHW