POST VICTORIAN POETRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23109, 6 August 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

POST VICTORIAN POETRY

A Sane Appraisement

By E.M.B.

MR. HERBERT PALMER'S "Post Victorian Poetry" is a handy guide for those who find it difficult to keep up with the contemporary Muse. She is too prodigal of her inspiration, and produces too many little books with hideously uncut edges in limited editions, for both the spare time and the spare cash of most of us. Wo are rather' close to sonic of it in point of time for correct perspective, hut ns far as such a task cim be accomplished, Mr. Palmer has analysed and classified the output of the century with taste and discernment. It is difficult to be final, or anything like universally convincing, even about a poet dead a century. When we caiv still argue about Horace and Euripides, a book on our neighbours must expect a varied reception. There is, however, some common ground. All will acknowledge the endeavour to he fair. Surely all sane folk will approve of the diagnosis of "Waste Land.'' Most people will be satisfied with such good ehnpters as those on Flecker and Chesterton —"the poet of Falstallian Christianity." Palmer calls him! Some will say that Rupert Brooke deserved more spare, Hoiisman more attention. And across tlie harbour will they forgive the word of censure in the sympathetic paragraph on Robin Hyde? Quotations, at any rate, are full. We nro not asked to accept judgments without justification. There is no dogmatism, and little vague generalisation. Put why, oh, why. does he use the word "plangency" and its cacophonous adjective so often?

"Post Yirlorian Poetry," by Herbert Palmer. (Dent.)