Denis Donoghue: Words Alone

I've read lots of T.S. Eliot, and many books about his work, buy it is such a pleasure to read Denis Donoghue's "Words Alone" about the poems of TSE. The close reading style is never pedantic, and his arguments are totally integrated. It feels a little like having your hair combed with a firmly held, bore-bristle (sic). Donoghue used to teach at Trinity College Dublin, and then at NYU. To have such a teacher one must be blessed, as a friend of mine was. But for Ireland to lose such a teacher..... I for one, will have to finish it, and start all over again, and hope against hope that I have mind enough to hold it.

Categories: poetry, ireland, irish, crit, literature, criticism, contemporary, american,