FOREIGN MATTER
Sir,-Certain English literary weeklies have developed an irritating habit of flavouring their articles with French and other foreign phrases, some of which must be meaningless to most of their readers. A writer of standing twice used a phrase which I could not find in a good French dictionary. I am led by the appearance of the expression poéte maudit, in "M.K.J.’s" excellent review of James Baxter’s poems, to say I hope that this habit will not take root here. I know what maudit means literally, but what exactly is poéte maudit, and how does the expression apply to Mr. Baxter? Maybe I should know, but I have been reading criticism for many years, and do not remember coming upon the phrase before. I doubt if two per cent of The Listener's readers are wiser for having read it, and I suggest it is a good rule in writing never to write above the heads of your readers,
SMOOTH PASSAGE
(Wellington"
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19530605.2.12.8
Bibliographic details
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 28, Issue 725, 5 June 1953, Page 5
Word count
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162FOREIGN MATTER New Zealand Listener, Volume 28, Issue 725, 5 June 1953, Page 5
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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