In the Spirit of Powys: New Essays

by Denis Lane (Editor)

This work is a collection of essays on the work of John Cowper Powys, the English novelist and Nobel nominee. The critical intention of these essays is to provide a picture of Powys's achievement.

268 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1990

Reviews

[Richard S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of essays on John Cowper Powys (JCP) is overall a very good and enlightening collection. Perhaps the fundamental critical problem or issue with him is quite well conveyed in the introduction, it is the problem of the opening of A Glastonbury Romance and its reference to Powys’ “First Cause”. Some of the later essays are just “wrong” (the one equating Powys with Joyce as “exiles” kind of ludicrous as Powys returned to England every year). Probably the best is Southwick’s “Rituals of Return” which is an excellent introduction to JCP’s work generally and provides the best and most fulsome summary of his strengths and weaknesses. Any “avowed Powysian” is aware of these limitations, but they get swept away by the depth and richness of his writing.

There were two pieces on Maiden Castle but neither moved me from my negative assessment of the novel.

Unfortunately the collection is seriously marred by the inappropriate inclusion of a piece by G. Wilson Knight on spiritualism. I continue to wonder how this focus has been a blight on JCP’s legacy.

So despite some poor or inappropriate material, there are nuggets of quality criticism, which one may expect in this type of collection.