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Letters of Edward Fitzgerald
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.
368 pages, Paperback
Published November 12, 2006
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About the author
Edward FitzGerald
651 books24 followersPeople note British poet Edward FitzGerald for his translation in 1859 of
The Rubáiyát
, a collection of quatrains of the medieval Persian poet, mathematician, and astronomer Omar Khayyám.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_...
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December 1, 2020
Edward FitzGerald seems to be the earliest and purest exponent of a sort of Epicureanism -- very different from anything that could plausibly be interpreted from the actual doctrines of Epicurus, and just as far from indiscriminate hedonism -- largely peculiar to the 19th century. Walter Pater was probably the strongest and most influential, but strength & influence are not regarded very highly in this program. His particular character may be partially attributed to his diet, which seems to have consisted exclusively of bread and fruit.
The main event of about the first half of letters is casual literary & musical criticism, which yields many good things. The subtle evolution of his character takes place here; one of the first letters lauds the tenderness of Shakespeare's sonnets; then he turns to blaming "Daddy Wordsworth" for ruining his enjoyment of any sonnets; then he forgives "a certain Daddy" for his monotony when confronted with the evils of wealth. Wordsworth was Poet Laureate until his death in 1850, when A. Tennyson, with whom FitzGerald was at Cambridge, was awarded the position. FitzGerald wrote consistently to Tennyson's brother Frederick, who was in Italy for most of this time, insisting that his verse was superior to his younger and more august brother's.
His opinions on music are no less persistently his own. He was born in the same year as Felix Mendelssohn, whom he first supposes the foremost living writer of music; then opines that he is at his best writing romantically, the time for religious choral music being past; and eventually pronounces that "Mendelssohn's things are mostly tiresome to me". He says some interesting though not entirely unpredictable things about Handel, Mozart, & Beethoven.
These opinions eventually dwindle to accounts of his indolence and declarations that he no longer desires to buy books or paintings or to attend concerts. This second phase nonetheless quickens with the entrance of Thomas Carlyle, who initially wrote to him inquiring with his typical urgency about the site of the Battle of Naseby, on which property E.F.G. happened to be languishing. FitzGerald reluctantly helped Carlyle sort out the details for his Cromwell studies, and the two remained good friends afterwards. FitzGerald writes to Carlyle a decent amount, and about Carlyle a great deal. I am inclined to believe that these men unwittingly formed the great opposite poles of Victorian England, Carlyle's position being mollified & refined in Arnold and FitzGerald's being hardened & made to stand on its own by Pater.
The last portion of these letters principally deals with his work in translating Calderon and various Persians under the influence of E.B. Cowell, his preference gradually becoming clear in favor of Omar Khayyam.
The main event of about the first half of letters is casual literary & musical criticism, which yields many good things. The subtle evolution of his character takes place here; one of the first letters lauds the tenderness of Shakespeare's sonnets; then he turns to blaming "Daddy Wordsworth" for ruining his enjoyment of any sonnets; then he forgives "a certain Daddy" for his monotony when confronted with the evils of wealth. Wordsworth was Poet Laureate until his death in 1850, when A. Tennyson, with whom FitzGerald was at Cambridge, was awarded the position. FitzGerald wrote consistently to Tennyson's brother Frederick, who was in Italy for most of this time, insisting that his verse was superior to his younger and more august brother's.
His opinions on music are no less persistently his own. He was born in the same year as Felix Mendelssohn, whom he first supposes the foremost living writer of music; then opines that he is at his best writing romantically, the time for religious choral music being past; and eventually pronounces that "Mendelssohn's things are mostly tiresome to me". He says some interesting though not entirely unpredictable things about Handel, Mozart, & Beethoven.
These opinions eventually dwindle to accounts of his indolence and declarations that he no longer desires to buy books or paintings or to attend concerts. This second phase nonetheless quickens with the entrance of Thomas Carlyle, who initially wrote to him inquiring with his typical urgency about the site of the Battle of Naseby, on which property E.F.G. happened to be languishing. FitzGerald reluctantly helped Carlyle sort out the details for his Cromwell studies, and the two remained good friends afterwards. FitzGerald writes to Carlyle a decent amount, and about Carlyle a great deal. I am inclined to believe that these men unwittingly formed the great opposite poles of Victorian England, Carlyle's position being mollified & refined in Arnold and FitzGerald's being hardened & made to stand on its own by Pater.
The last portion of these letters principally deals with his work in translating Calderon and various Persians under the influence of E.B. Cowell, his preference gradually becoming clear in favor of Omar Khayyam.
Displaying 1 of 1 review