It's as much a mistake to discount the influence of an indulgent patronage as it is, almost, to assume it. Country house weekends seem to have done Eliot no harm, but it is risky to conclude that there was no effect; and yet in Forster's case, it is hard to know where the lap of actual luxury ended in his imagined works. Writers are notorious for the epigrams about the hand that feeds them (cf., Johnson above all, but Pope at the same time), but they are probably the last to know the answer. That said, who could ever resist wondering how he might have nudged an Eliot -- apart from misreading him, of course. :) The posting affords this intimate implication, and this is of course its great strength.
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Wouldn't it be be delicious to be in one of those chairs, sharing a drink?!
ReplyDeletemy thoughts exactly! pgt
DeleteLove this post, and the new header. Thank you for brightening this grey day in Manhattan.
ReplyDeleteGaye thank you for sharing these images of such great literary figures!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
You just gave us a wonderful porthole into the literary greats...with thanks from Saigon. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a group of luminaries--but they look a lot like photos of my grandparents.
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Mary
It's as much a mistake to discount the influence of an indulgent patronage as it is, almost, to assume it. Country house weekends seem to have done Eliot no harm, but it is risky to conclude that there was no effect; and yet in Forster's case, it is hard to know where the lap of actual luxury ended in his imagined works. Writers are notorious for the epigrams about the hand that feeds them (cf., Johnson above all, but Pope at the same time), but they are probably the last to know the answer. That said, who could ever resist wondering how he might have nudged an Eliot -- apart from misreading him, of course. :) The posting affords this intimate implication, and this is of course its great strength.
ReplyDelete