En defensa del fervor

by Adam Zagajewski, Jerzy Slawomirski (Translator), Anna Rubió Rodón (Translator)

«Fervor», «inspiración» o «sublime» son términos frecuentemente maltratados por la crítica literaria. Nadie mejor que uno de los mejores poetas de nuestros días, un apologeta del poder de aquella iluminación que distingue a la mejor poesía, para restituir sus virtudes a la cultura contemporánea. En los trece ensayos recogidos en el presente libro, Adam Zagajewski llama a defender la serenidad, la valentía, la pasión crítica, la belleza y la seriedad metafísica de la ironía con elocuencia, erudición y punzante sentido del humor.

Genres: Essays, Poetry, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Polish Literature, Art, History

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Adam Zagajewski was a Polish poet, novelist, translator and essayist. He was awarded the 2004 Neustadt International Prize for Literature.

The Zagajeski family was expelled from Lwów by the Ukrainians to central Poland in 1945.
In 1982 he emigrated to Paris, but in 2002 he returned to Poland, and now resides in Kraków.
His poem "Try To Praise The Mutilated World", printed in The New Yorker, became famous after the 9/11 attacks.

He is considered a leading poet of the Generation of '68, or Polish New Wave (Polish: Nowa fala), and one of Poland's most prominent contemporary poets.

Source: wikipedia.com

Reviews

[daniel greeson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one reads (or should read) W.H. Auden to get a certain feeling for the literature of the 20th century from a Western European perspective, so one should look towards Adam Zagajewski as a prime candidate for an Eastern European one. A Defense of Ardor is a wonderful panoramic view of the intellectual ferment of Poland under Communism, the impact of various authors upon Zagajewski’s intellectual and poetic life, and a guide to reading the other giants of Polish literature of the last generation: Czesław Miłosz and Zbigniew Herbert.



Defenses of poetry and the poetic life have launched many a pen, defended the ink spilt throughout the ages, and defined the visions of generations. A Defense of Ardor is also an excellent addition to the defenses of the poetic mounted by late 20th and 21st century poets, e.g. Seamus Heaney, Geoffrey Hill, and Czesław Miłosz. This collection of essays sings through the literature of multiple centuries and shows the virtuosity of Zagajewski’s vision, one of deep feeling and precision in thought. If I had ever doubted ardor, I am now awed by its power.



If one delights in following a poet through history and culture, then this book is a must. If one especially enjoys the émigré literature of Eastern Europe, this is a necessity.

[Krishna Avendaño · Rating 5 out of 5]

En estos tiempos de inmanencia, de espíritus cansados, de estética malbaratada, donde gracias a la tiranía del relativismo lo abyecto y vacío suele pasar por bello, pocos libros son tan necesarios como En defensa del fervor de Adam Zagajewski.

Unas citas:
Sólo el fervor es la materia prima de nuestras construcciones literarias.

La belleza es una llamada, una promesa, tal vez no de felicidad —como quería Stendhal—, pero sí de un eterno peregrinaje.

Los contemporáneos ya no lloran, sino que más bien permanecen en un estado de desesperación fría y elegante.

Sobre la poesía:

La miseria de la poesía consiste en una confianza excesiva depositada en los pensadores de turno. (...) Sólo me enoja la poesía pequeña y pusilánime, obtusa y rastrera, una poesía que escucha servilmente lo que sopla el espíritu de la época

Sin la mirada severa de la duda, la poesía podría degenerar en una canción sentimental, un canto exaltado pero estulto o una alabanza irreflexiva de cualquier forma del mundo.

[Isla McKetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books I want to purchase many copies of and press into the hands of friends. The pages are now littered with annotations and the initials of people to whom I will quote certain passages in letters. Zagajewski writes about his fellow writers and about the way we think and what moves us to create and how. I closed the book after each essay, wanting to wrap myself in his thoughts.

[Leopoldo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creo que muchas ideas que sostiene y defiende Zagajewski a lo largo de este libro podrían parecer cuestionables, pero muchas veces el fervor contradice a la razón pura. Se agradece la valentía de argumentar tan ardorosamente a favor de la pasión pura, del fervor no sólo poético sino de la experiencia humana, en estos tiempos de desencanto. Mis textos favoritos de este libro: en el que habla de su visita a Lvov, el de Czapski, el de Herbert y el de Milosz.

[Mauricio Montenegro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es una selección de ensayos y textos de Zagajewski escritos entre 1993 y 2002. El libro se divide en cinco secciones que no tienen una unidad muy clara, aunque es evidente que las dos últimas reunen los textos más cortos y misceláneos que, como suele pasar en estas antologías, están destinados a cumplir con una extensión; yo preferiría un libro más corto y cohesionado. Entre los ensayos largos de las primeras secciones hay varios que hacen una valiente defensa de lo sublime, lo que da título al libro. Digo que es una defensa valiente, porque Zagajewski es consciente de la mala reputación del pathos en una época superficial que se presume irónica. Lo mejor del libro es que abre una ventana a la historia y la vida intelectual de Europa del Este (especialmente de Polonia), de la mano de un gran lector que aporta datos y citas con gracia. Agradezco haber conocido, por ejemplo, la figura de Jozef Czapski. Hay un ensayo excepcional sobre Cioran y Milosz, "La poesía y la duda".

[Patri · Rating 5 out of 5]

El arte conduce al entendimiento; ¿quién sino él crea tantos diálogos íntimos? He aquí a alguien que sonría mientras lee un libro sentado en un banco del parque. Otro experimenta una profunda conmoción delante del cuadro En la sombrerería de Degas. Alguien se siente alegre y animado al escuchar la primera parte de la Sonata para piano, K 310 de Mozart, aquella música increíblemente enérgica, un canto a la vida (a pesar de que Mozart compuso esta sonata durante su segunda estancia en París, tan triste, cuando su madre acababa de morir y los críticos franceses, que no veían más que a los genios locales, ignoraban al compositor austríaco).

[Hesham · Rating 1 out of 5]

bland language and tedious contents except for three essays which were rather mediocre :
1-Against poetry,
2- Poetry and Doubt ,
and the last chapter 3- (Writing in Polish) by far is the best and more pertinent to what I am seeking from reading this book , wherein he expounds briefly on what are the dilemmas and metaphysical questions that have preoccupied the Poles , and on the Poles self-reflection of their identity,situation and future as it was tackled by the country intellectual and literary titans-such as Miłosz , Szymborska, Zbigniew Herbert and many others .

[Josh Skaggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these essays a lot. Zagajewski's main premise is that the modern artist has leaned too heavily on irony as a primary force and needs to return to ardor as his or her source. Irony should only ever be a complementary note in art, but over time it has risen to the forefront as writers have increasingly taken on a detached, critical stance toward theirs and others' work. Zagajewski opposes this with his essays, which are deeply felt (yet unaffected) and imbued with an appreciation for life.

Also: the book itself is beautiful and nice to hold.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

"...there’s something tempting, nonetheless, about seeing poetry in its movement “between”—both as one of the most important vehicles bearing us upward and as a way of understanding that ardor precedes irony. Ardor: the earth’s fervent song, which we answer with our own, imperfect song.

We need poetry just as we need beauty. Beauty isn’t only for aesthetes; beauty is for anyone who seeks a serious road. It is a summons, a promise, if not of happiness, as Stendhal hoped, then of a great and endless journey."

[Mauberley]

The perfect companion for these lonely days - cultured, educated, gossipy. His memoirs of Milosz, Herbert, and, perhaps most especially, Czapski, are wonderful. Like hearing Toots sing, ‘Country Roads’, they conjure warm and delightful memories of people and places we have never met.

[Marcos Carrasco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Algunos ensayos muy buenos, otros reguleros. En general buen libro y más aún a quien le interesen mucho los artistas chechos y centroeuropeos como Miløsz. Un ensayo sobre Nietzsche excelente y escritos muy bonitos sobre poesía, pero se me ha hecho bola el libro en general.

[Lizandro Arbolay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sin duda un gran libro, para lectores interesados en la escritura. El resto, ni se moleste.

[Eugenie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ardor is passion

[Alvaro Muñoz Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Les parts en què tracta la ironia són molt interessants.

[Michael Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

zagajewski verges on the vapid when he writes about poetics, or life, in general. book is worth it however for his much better commentaries on polish poetry.

[Łukasz Sabat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zdecydowane tak!

„Czy poezja jest mistyką dla początkujących?”

Re-read po 3 latach

[Sloveneanon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't really get into it :(

[Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look into the mind of a Polish intellectual, looking at the world through a very polish lens. The things he sees and thinks about are in no way alien because of the Polishness–simply different. This might be because of the heavy influence that the west has had on him, but I think it is more because he simply sees clearly. The "Defense of Ardor" that the eponymous essay, and, in fact, every essay in the collection is about, is a global trend, and one that many of his favorite Polish "Titans" have led the way on. The hipster renaissance hasn't been about irony for almost a decade at this point, and has serious impact on art now. At the time this was published, ardor was still getting its sea legs, but by now it is the dominant strategy for artists.

We can see this in every way, from Kanye's heartfelt proclamations on twitter and at awards shows, to Grimes' unashamedly mainstream and obscure tumblr.

Ardor is worth defending. Zagajewski is on the right side of history.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought-provoking, intellectual look at the pursuit of ardor in life and writing. It challenges readers on their contentment with ordinary life and pushes them toward the pursuit of something higher. There are moments when Zagajewski seems to grow distracted by reflection on the biographical details of his personal heroes, but his point often wins out in the end. Be warned, however: this is no light reading.

[jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I loved the chaptes on poetry. The book is written for intellectuals and "super-readers." In other words, many people would find it a bit elitist and perhaps out of touch. But if you read a lot and are interested in poetry, then it works rather well.

[Haymone Neto · Rating 4 out of 5]

O premiado poeta polonês Adam Zagajewski advoga por coisas que andam meio fora de moda na literatura, como o fervor e o "estilo elevado", em oposição à ironia e a um realismo coloquial. Vesti a carapuça.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring read. Is it a shame to say that i like his essays more than his poems? Maybe just a bit, but these essays make my chest relax and make me want to read everything. Again.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this collection of essays on poetry, intellectual Eastern Europe, and the author's encounters with writers and poets - mainly in Poland. It's a thoughtful and interesting collection.

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Polish. Many re-reads ahead of me, that's for sure.

[Sabatowka stadnina koni · Rating 5 out of 5]

przeczytane, opisane tutaj: http://sabatowka.wordpress.com/2013/0...

[john callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating essays on art, literature, history, and philosophy, from the celebrated Polish poet. (He died in January 2021.)

[Ana]

Es un verdadero placer y un regalo poder leer a Adam Zagajewski; sus obras siempre aportan algo bueno y aydan a reflexionar sobre temas diversos. Sus obras están repletas de aforismos y pensamientos que iluminan y nos despiertan.