"THE ANGEL IN THE GUTTER"

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22201, 18 September 1937, Page 18

"THE ANGEL IN THE GUTTER"

CRITICISM OF CRITICISM TO TUB EDITOR OF TUB PRESS. Sir, —A copy of your issue of June 12 has reached me here. In it is an article by R. G. C. McNab on Edward Shanks’ Life of Edgar Allan Poe. One does not know whether to be amused or annoyed at your writer's deridings of Poe. Leaving out what Poe was as a man—and at worst he was neurotic and, when up against it, something of a weakling -—yet as a practical exponent of the art of short story writing he has been acclaimed by the highest authorities as the equal of Hawthorne and Kipling. Very few short story writers have been able to invest their stories with the same strong, dramatic interest that was Poe’s gift. He was unique. His application of the dramatic principle in his writings (I am not referring to his verse) evidences the inspiration of the genius. Years ago in London I came across an anonymous author’s life of Poe. It was a candid biography, written by a clergyman who knew him, and it told truthfully of his sad end; but it did not judge him ruthlessly; indeed, it did not judge him at all, as those of us who strive sincerely and know the ups and downs of life always hesitate to judge, especially anyone who has a gift greater than our own. I would say to students of short story writing, of article-writing, of the use of English in dramatic writing, “Do not fail to read Edgar Allan Poe. Do not be influenced against him.” And may I quote a few phrases of your critic of Edgar Allan Poe’.’ Are they elegant, or do they even display the good English or choice of words one would expect from a critic of the great Poe? I quote; “Fatally, he lacked the will to persist.” Why “fatally”? “Instability made him blind himself to present poverty with intoxication.” Is that an elegant phrase? “His parents were shiftless and Poe was scarcely aware of cither of them.” From the context one imagines his parents were not “aware” of him! “He held three editorships, and, if not underpaid, would have conducted them to resounding success.” What would you say, sir. if anyone wrote in your editorial columns of "conducting” an editorship to “resounding” ’success? “Much of what Poe wrote is worthless: hasty journalism, madly imaginative tales, deliberately mystifying stories about himself, and writings spilled when he was not sober.” Can the term “spilled” be applied even figuratively with any literary elegance to writings? There is much that is good in Mr McNab’s article on Poe; but I suggest he do not spoil his writing with cheap, ill-considered, strained expressions.—Yours, etc., NEW ZEALANDER IN LONDON. London, July 25, 1937. Mr McNab writes as follows: I will not comment on the opinions of “Now Zealander in London," and it is not for me to decide whether my expression is '‘strained’’ or “cheap.” I believe that the article was not “illconsidered," and I have no pretensions to elegance. If what I write is true and clear, 1 shall be more pleased than if it is considered elegant. I am surprised that my account of Poe is by the letter-writer considered to be derisive. His indignation is the same as that of another person who was vexed with me about Shelley: both resent being told that their heroes fall short of perfection in any respect of life or art. To matters of fact I can reply. “Fatally"? Poe died through lack of will-power. The attack on the word “aware” is. to me. quite unnecessary, and I accept as a statement of fact the sentence of incredulous comment about Poe’s parents. "Conducting an editorship to resounding success”? “Resounding” I do not much care for; but it is excessive refinement to avoid every clichA “Spilled”? This still suits me. What really rankles is the suggestion that I, cr any one else for that matter, should desire to be a literary elegant. Ronald Firbank is not up my alley.