|
COPYRIGHT 1994 University of Illinois Press
By Emery E. George. Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press, 1992. Pp. xiv + 126; 2 illustrations. $49-95.
The careful, thoughtful reader of poetry seems fated to be struck again and again by parallels, references, implications, and similarities to other textspossibilities, in other words--that seem so clear and certain that they must be true, while at the same time lacking verifiable proof that they amount to more than mere possibilities. Emery George, in bringing forth this volume consisting of two independent but related chapters on the image of the "Great Chain" in Holderlin's poetry, has taken upon himself the burden of showing how an obscure theological treatise by a Jesuit cardinal from the seventeenth century, unrecognized as yet by Holderlin scholarship, pervasively influenced the poet's mature output. His task is not made any easier by the lack of historical evidence that Holderlin ever saw or had access to the work in question. He must therefore rely on intrinsic evidence within Holderlin's oeuvre. That he does not completely succeed is...
Read the full article for free courtesy of your local library.
|
Bookmark this article
Print this article
Link to this article
Email this article
Digg It!
Add to del.icio.us
RSS
