Pound / Williams: Selected Letters

by Hugh Witemeyer (Editor), Ezra Pound, William Carlos Williams

Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams, two towering figures in American poetry, began their lifelong, and often contentious, friendship as students at the University of Pennsylvania. Their correspondence ran from 1907, the year Pound took up his virtually permanent residence in Europe, until Williams' death in 1963. The letters contribute an unparalleled documentary record of modern culture - a wealth of information about the lives and works of the two poets themselves; the literary and political movements in which they became involved and the impact of public events upon the arts; the activities of other writers and artists; and the world of small presses and little magazines that nourished the growth of modernism. Pound/Williams contains 169 letters selected from the poets' surviving correspondence, each letter reproduced in full and accompanied by explanatory notes. Historical introductions place each of the live chronological groupings of letters into context, and a biographical glossary identifies persons prominently mentioned.

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Mat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, enlightening and at times downright hilarious.

This is a great selection of letters between two minds, two close friends and two legendary poets and writers.

"You know better than anyone else that I have been your admirer from the first and have never wavered in my loyalty from the first. Internal fights with you have occurred but between two high spirited companions that is to be expected.”
(p. 306: WCW writing to EP, dated January 7, 1957)

What amazed me the most about this book is how Pound and Williams stayed friends, through thick and thin, despite all the tiffs and full-throttle quarrels they had with each other (through letters), sometimes almost at each other's throats in their disagreements about poetry (what poetry should be), politics ("and then you go and make yourself a political prisoner you ass" - WCW to EP) etc.

If you are new to Pound, you might find his highly stylized and idiosyncratic epistolary style bewildering at times. Don't worry there is a great selection of notes after each letter explaining who the publishers, poets, painters, musicians or books are that they are talking about or referring to.

What I also loved about this book was the biographical index at the back which has a comprehensive list of many of the major figures during these years. After reading this book, it makes me want to pick up and read the works of other writers they both admired such as Ford Madox Ford (originally Ford Madox Hueffer), T. S. Eliot (although he was a 'bete noire' to WCW, Pound adored him), Hart Crane, H.D. and a long list of writers on economics and politics such as Major C. H. Douglas, who invented the concept of Social Credit. If you want to understand Pound's economic theories you need to read Douglas and Silvio Gesell at least.

At the end of the book, when WCW passes away, Pound sends a short, simple but moving message to Williams' wife, Flossie,

"Dear Floss

A magnificent fight he made of it for you. He bore with me sixty years, and I shall never find another poet friend like him. My love and sympathy to you – Ezra.”
(p. 319)
(WCW died on March 4, 1963, whereas Pound died in 1972)

I have now read about 5-6 books of Pounds letters (there are a frightening number of them - last time I checked I counted about 17 or 18!!!) but it was easily one of the most entertaining. Never did I think I would write this sentence but - you can really feel the venom and love between the lines.
Highly recommended especially for fans of modernism or early 20th Century lit.

[YL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bromance goals