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On Series (Little Books, Big Ideas)
On Passion
'I wonder if some of the most deeply passionate experiences of my life have happened between the covers of a book'
A wonderful, ultimately joyous, insight into the creative life of one of our best loved poets.
In On Passion celebrated Australian poet Dorothy Porter delves headfirst into the passions, both literary and earthly. We discover the young Dorothy Porter's 'drug of choice' was none other than romantic love and that 'some of the most deeply passionate experiences of [her] life happened between the covers of a book'. Written just before she passed away in 2008, On Passion is a wonderful, ultimately joyous, insight into the creative life of one of our best loved poets.
A wonderful, ultimately joyous, insight into the creative life of one of our best loved poets.
In On Passion celebrated Australian poet Dorothy Porter delves headfirst into the passions, both literary and earthly. We discover the young Dorothy Porter's 'drug of choice' was none other than romantic love and that 'some of the most deeply passionate experiences of [her] life happened between the covers of a book'. Written just before she passed away in 2008, On Passion is a wonderful, ultimately joyous, insight into the creative life of one of our best loved poets.
- GenresPoetryNonfictionEssays
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Porter
41 books49 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Eminent Australian poet. A rare proponent of the verse novel. Winner of The Age Book of the Year for poetry, and the National Book Council Award, for her verse novel The Monkey's Mask. She was awarded the Christopher Brennan Award for lifetime achievement in poetry in 2001. Died of breast cancer, 2008.
Eminent Australian poet. A rare proponent of the verse novel. Winner of The Age Book of the Year for poetry, and the National Book Council Award, for her verse novel The Monkey's Mask. She was awarded the Christopher Brennan Award for lifetime achievement in poetry in 2001. Died of breast cancer, 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 26, 2011
Enlightening, inspiring and moving! Dorothy Porter's essay on Passion starts with a profound poem she wrote at seventeen about losing her religion, meanders through literature that inspired and stirred her passion throughout her life and ends with the search for Duende and a soulful saeta.
Nietzsche's 'Birth of Tragedy' introduced her to Euripide's Baccae and Dionysian delights whilst Bronte's deep rendering of passion in Wuthering Heights (my all time favorite novel) made her wonder about her inspiration. DH Lawrence's snake poem, Sappho's smatterings on eros, Rimbaud, Donne's erotic longings, Ginsberg's powerful poetry, Hopkins birds, Dostyevsky's Brothers Karamazov, Paglia's Vamps & Tramps, shocking Shakespeare, Lorca's Duende & CP Cavafy's 'The God Abandons Antony' all feature as influences and muses in this rich little dip into the heart and soul of the late great Dorothy Porter.
Nietzsche's 'Birth of Tragedy' introduced her to Euripide's Baccae and Dionysian delights whilst Bronte's deep rendering of passion in Wuthering Heights (my all time favorite novel) made her wonder about her inspiration. DH Lawrence's snake poem, Sappho's smatterings on eros, Rimbaud, Donne's erotic longings, Ginsberg's powerful poetry, Hopkins birds, Dostyevsky's Brothers Karamazov, Paglia's Vamps & Tramps, shocking Shakespeare, Lorca's Duende & CP Cavafy's 'The God Abandons Antony' all feature as influences and muses in this rich little dip into the heart and soul of the late great Dorothy Porter.
March 29, 2019
A fabulous, thoughtful, intriguing little treatise on the life-affirming value of passion. Sentences & ideas to linger over, yet Porter has an engagingly warm voice. Touching & surprising.
September 6, 2019
Can’t believe this is the first of Dorothy Porter that I’ve read. I had to re-read Survivor of the Auto da Fé several times: a heretic at the stake cursing her rat - the symbol of her faith - which flees as she burns. ‘The love to singe your whiskers.’
March 30, 2019
A tiny book.
It was the last book Porter wrote before her death. Which always gives more weight to a book. The last chapter goes into this concept. I have been enjoying reading books about the stories and ideas that have set writers off. Inspired them or horrified them, this book was a lovely way to take a walk with Porter, when in real life I will never be able to.
It was the last book Porter wrote before her death. Which always gives more weight to a book. The last chapter goes into this concept. I have been enjoying reading books about the stories and ideas that have set writers off. Inspired them or horrified them, this book was a lovely way to take a walk with Porter, when in real life I will never be able to.
July 3, 2025
If you’re a fan of D Porter, this honest self appraisal will be rewarding. If you’re not a fan, you should be. Read What a Piece of Work or The Monkey’s Mask, two of her novels in verse.
September 7, 2025
“And when my human saviour was cute my rapture for Jesus was even more intense
Above all don’t fool yourself don’t say it was a dream, your ears deceive you: don’t degrade yourself with empty hopes like these. As one long prepared, and full of courage, as is right for you who were given this kind of city, go firmly to the window.
- ‘the god abandons Antony’ Greek poet cp cavafy
Sappho is found stuffed in the mouths of mummified crocodiles
A thin flame runs under my skin
Agatha Christie “how lovely to be eleven years old and greedy”
Gerard Hopkins “what I do is me: for that I came”
Spanish poet Federico Lorca’s “duende”: the dark sounds, what makes the audience weep and tear their clothes
Above all don’t fool yourself don’t say it was a dream, your ears deceive you: don’t degrade yourself with empty hopes like these. As one long prepared, and full of courage, as is right for you who were given this kind of city, go firmly to the window.
- ‘the god abandons Antony’ Greek poet cp cavafy
Sappho is found stuffed in the mouths of mummified crocodiles
A thin flame runs under my skin
Agatha Christie “how lovely to be eleven years old and greedy”
Gerard Hopkins “what I do is me: for that I came”
Spanish poet Federico Lorca’s “duende”: the dark sounds, what makes the audience weep and tear their clothes
June 20, 2014
Passion...theme without end. This was interesting. References writings and authors that I know and some to discover. The passion of others is quite contagious and can lead us to places beyond our imagining or simply remind us to (re)ignite our own passions. There is so much to be passionate about in life and I find it hard to believe that some live without passion. I am so often in awe of everything it's overwhelming!
Anyway, I will be checking out more work by Dorothy Porter. Seems to me she was an amazing person, with highly developed senses for one so young when she began writing.
Anyway, I will be checking out more work by Dorothy Porter. Seems to me she was an amazing person, with highly developed senses for one so young when she began writing.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews