NEW ZEALAND CRITICISM
Sir,-"E.R.H." says: "Now Mr. Curnow, Mr. Fairburn and Mr, Keith Sinclair each know (sic) who, between Denis Glover and C. Day Lewis, is the better poet.’"’ I should like to know what "better" means here. Faster over seven furlongs? Containing more vitamin Bl? More beneficial if massaged into the roots of the hair? : I have a greater respect for Mr. C. Day Lewis than I have for most other English and American poets today, but I fail to see why I should be expected to adopt a servile attitude when dealing with a book of his which, in» my view, has serious shortcomings. Nor do I understand. why it should be so easily taken for granted that praise of Mr. Denis Glover's work implies that some sort of "double standard" is being used, Your correspondent speaks of "world standards, meaningful standards." Here, I think. we have the authentic voice ot barbarism. Aré we soon to have the world tennis ranking system applied to holiness? Is poetry shortly :to be graded » like export mutton?
A. R. D.
FAIRBURN
(Auckland).
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19530911.2.12.5
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 29, Issue 739, 11 September 1953, Page 5
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181NEW ZEALAND CRITICISM New Zealand Listener, Volume 29, Issue 739, 11 September 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.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
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