Auden on Austen
I just finished teaching Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice , and so this excerpt from W.H. Auden's "Letter to Lord Byron" caught my attention: There is one other author in my pack: For some time I debated which to write to. Which would least likely send my letter back? But I decided that I'd give a fright to Jane Austen if I wrote when I'd no right to, And share in her contempt the dreadful fates Of Crawford, Musgrove, and of Mr Yates. Then she's a novelist. I don't know whether You will agree, but novel writing is A higher art than poetry altogether In my opinion, and success implies Both finer character and faculties. Perhaps that's why real novels are as rare As winter thunder or a polar bear. The average poet by comparison Is unobservant, immature, and lazy. You must admit, when all is said and done, His sense of other people's very hazy, His moral judgments are too often crazy, A slick and easy...