[New-Poetry] Leopardi and the Theory of Poetry

[jforjames at aol.com]

Leopardi and the Theory of Poetry, by G. Singh, U. of Kentucky Press 1964
 
I recently ran across this book and I've been enjoying it
quite a bit. G. Singh writes lucid and insightful prose. He
quotes (in translation) much of Leopardi's views on poetry
and poetics. The book has chapters on Romantic Movement v.
Classical Poetry, The Poetic Image, Poetry and Melacholy, 
Poetry and Myth, etc. Much of the Leopardi material comes
from his _Zibaldone_ (hodge-podge), which were the notebooks
he kept of his thoughts on various subjects, primarily related to art, poetry
and human nature. Leopardi's views of human nature are very dark
and hard for me to align myself with...but much of what Leopardi
says about art and poetry is useful and still relevant. 
 
I'll gather some quotes from the book in next few days and post them. 
Singh also quotes many poets and critics, from various ages, to compare
and contrast to the ideas and remarks of Leopardi. For those, like
Anny, who are fluent in Italian, all the Leopardi quotes from the 
book are in notes in the original Italian. I'm sure this book is not
in print. But I found a couple of cheap copies on the web. I often
have a notion to give away a copy of book I love. But not my only copy,
so when I find a extra one at a good price I pick it up.
 
Finnegan
 
________________________________________________________________________
AOL now offers free email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://wiz.cath.vt.edu/pipermail/new-poetry/attachments/20070326/7e549969/attachment.html