It is the centenary , of course, of Frost's first success, in Britain not America, with the publication here of A Boy's Will and North of Boston. Edward Thomas's review had much to do with that success. In the novel I imagine their conversation:
* * *
Edward crossed the fields to call on
Robert. He had something for him – proof copies of his three reviews of North of Boston, each intended for
different journals.
‘Do you want to see them now?’ he asked.
‘Or take them away and read them overnight?’
‘You’re joking, aren’t you? For God’s
sake, now, right now. Ed, put me out of my misery.’
‘All right – look, let’s go to the oak
tree in our field and sit in the shade, then you can read them. And I’ll smoke
my pipe patiently and be quiet.’
They shifted their backs into comfort
against the ridged bark and Edward handed Robert the typewritten pages,
explaining which was for each journal. Robert was pale and sweating as he read.
His hand, holding the pages, was shaking. But his colour soon came back and he
started to grin.
‘“A
calm eagerness of emotion”¾ Yes.’ He read on, sometimes shaking his head as if
he could hardly believe what he was reading. Once he frowned for a moment. Then
he sped on through. When he’d finished he stayed silent and when Edward looked
at him he saw that his eyes were full of tears.
‘Thank you, my dear friend. That’ll do.
That’ll about do. You understand. You
don’t think simplicity is born of simple-mindedness!’
‘Well, you see I haven’t stinted my
praise. These poems are revolutionary, Robert. As I said, they remind me of
Wordsworth’s experiment with the Lyrical
Ballads, but with a difference.’
‘I’d expect it to be to my disadvantage
knowing how you feel about Wordsworth and his set.’
‘No, it’s not a question of advantage or
otherwise. It’s that you show more of other people’s feelings than Wordsworth
did and less of your own. And you know the lives you’re writing about, rather
as Dorothy Wordsworth did. Where Wordsworth contemplated people, you sympathize
with them.’
‘I guess. I truly appreciate what you’ve
written about Death of the Hired Man and Home Burial – ‘masterpieces of deep and mysterious tenderness.’
‘I hoped you like that phrase – because
I believe it to be true.’
Robert flushed and seemed near to tears
again. Edward suggested they walk over to the stile that led to Dymock lane;
they were more used to walking as they talked. Clouds of pink dust flew up from
the baked red ground and they created a flutter of butterflies from the
cornflowers.
‘Such a pleasure for me to have
something of quality to review, Robert. I can’t tell you how much of the
rubbishy poetry that’s printed comes to me. Review copies just bury us at home;
I have to give them to the school for paper-chases or to make kite-tails. Or if
we’re desperate enough I go to stay with friends and ‘accidentally’ leave a
whole suitcase-full of them behind.’
‘I do recall when we met in London last
year you were trying to sell some off.’
‘Very likely. Heaven knows, we’re well
into this new century – we need new poetry, but good poetry, not rubbish. We
need a poet with a voice of his own, but not an egotistical voice. That’s what
I like in yours.’
Edward’s long legs carried him fast as
he talked; he paused to lean on the style while Robert, shorter and four years
older, caught him up. When he did, Robert started reading his reviews
again.
‘You know Ed, truly I need to get home
and show these to Elinor – she’s been worrying herself crazy. It matters so
much, you know, how I’m recognised here – that’s what counts in the States.
They don’t give a damn for you till you’ve been published in England. And I’ve
come to realise how much your opinion
counts. So again, Ed, thank you.’
* * *
Here is news from the Robert Frost Review, mostly for those of you in the States but of interest to all enthusiasts of Frost - and I'm increasingly one of those.
Hello all,
1. "The Botanical Mystery of Frost's Purple-Fringed," Robert B. Hass, Edinboro University
2. "Acquainted with the Night: Backyard Astronomy in the Poetry of Robert Frost," Virginia Smith, United States Naval Academy
3. "Staying Alive: The Actuarial Robert Frost," Mark Richardson, Doshisha University
The Robert Frost Review
is planning a special issue to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the
publication of both A Boy’s Will (1913) and North of Boston
(1914). The Review welcomes all articles on any aspect of either book,
their poems, history, or reception. Please send electronic copies of manuscripts
no longer than 5,000 words in MLA style to jonathan.barron@usm.edu
for consideration.
______________________________________________________________________________
The Robert Frost Review
The Robert Frost Society
http://www.facebook.com/RobertFrostReview
www.robertfrostsociety.org
https://twitter.com/RLFrostSociety
https://mailman.usm.edu/mailman/listinfo/robert-frost-society
Department of English
University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5037
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
The Robert Frost Society
http://www.facebook.com/RobertFrostReview
www.robertfrostsociety.org
https://twitter.com/RLFrostSociety
https://mailman.usm.edu/mailman/listinfo/robert-frost-society
Department of English
University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5037
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
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