American Studies (32 page)
Authors: Louis Menand
T. S. ELIOT AND THE JEWS
1
Anthony Julius, T. S.
Eliot, Anti-Semitism, and Literary Form
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995), 173.
Eliot, Anti-Semitism, and Literary Form
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995), 173.
2
Julius, following other writers, asserts that “jew” in these lines is lowercase in all editions of Eliot’s poetry until 1962 and uppercase thereafter; but my edition of
The Complete Poems and Plays
, 1909-1950 (New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1971) retains the lowercase spelling. The British edition (which uses the upper case) is
Collected Poems,
1909-1962. Used by permission of Faber and Faber Ltd.
The Complete Poems and Plays
, 1909-1950 (New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1971) retains the lowercase spelling. The British edition (which uses the upper case) is
Collected Poems,
1909-1962. Used by permission of Faber and Faber Ltd.
3
T. S. Eliot,
After Strange Gods: A Primer of Modern Heresy
(New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1934), 20.
After Strange Gods: A Primer of Modern Heresy
(New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1934), 20.
4
It’s only fair to Ricks to point out, against Julius’s general criticism, that he does find an unthematized anti-Semitism in some of Eliot’s poems, and that he recognizes the difficulty of bracketing the anti-Semitism in any consideration of Eliot’s work. “It is better,” he says, “not only as ultimately more complimentary to the best in Eliot but also as more illuminating of the poems and the depth of their life, to acknowledge that in so far as Eliot’s poems are tinged with anti-Semitism, this—though lamentable—is not easily or neatly to be severed from things for which the poetry is not to be deplored or forgiven but actively praised” (T S.
Eliot and Prejudice
[Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988], 72). Presumably Julius would object to this as a continuing effort to argue that the anti-Semitism
is to be deplored not only because it is offensive, but also because it is inherently unpoetical.
Eliot and Prejudice
[Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988], 72). Presumably Julius would object to this as a continuing effort to argue that the anti-Semitism
is to be deplored not only because it is offensive, but also because it is inherently unpoetical.
5
Julius,
T. S. Eliot, Anti-Semitism, and Literary Form,
218.
T. S. Eliot, Anti-Semitism, and Literary Form,
218.
6
T. S. Eliot,
The Sacred Wood: Essays on Poetry and Criticism
, 2d ed. (London: Methuen, 1928), 5.
The Sacred Wood: Essays on Poetry and Criticism
, 2d ed. (London: Methuen, 1928), 5.
7
T. S. Eliot, A
Sermon Preached in Magdalene College Chapel
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1948), 5.
Sermon Preached in Magdalene College Chapel
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1948), 5.
8
Henri Bergson,
An Introduction to Metaphysics
, trans. T. E. Hulme, 2d ed. (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1955), 27-28. The essay was first published in
Revue de métaphysique
et
de morale
in January 1903; Hulme’s translation was published in London in 1913.
An Introduction to Metaphysics
, trans. T. E. Hulme, 2d ed. (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1955), 27-28. The essay was first published in
Revue de métaphysique
et
de morale
in January 1903; Hulme’s translation was published in London in 1913.
9
T. S. Eliot to Conrad Aiken, September 30, 1914,
The Letters of T. S. Eliot, Volume
1, 1898-1922, ed. Valerie Eliot (San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988), 59.
The Letters of T. S. Eliot, Volume
1, 1898-1922, ed. Valerie Eliot (San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988), 59.
10
T. E. Hulme, “Searchers after Reality—Haldane,”
New Age
5 (August 19, 1909): 316.
New Age
5 (August 19, 1909): 316.
11
T. S. Eliot, “The Metaphysical Poets,”
Selected Essays
, new ed. (New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1950), 248.
Selected Essays
, new ed. (New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1950), 248.
12
Charles Maurras,
LAvenir
de
l’intelligence
(Paris: Flammarion, 1927), 16-17 (my translation).
LAvenir
de
l’intelligence
(Paris: Flammarion, 1927), 16-17 (my translation).
13
Maurras,
L’Avenir
de
l’intelligence,
208.
L’Avenir
de
l’intelligence,
208.
14
Maurras,
L’Avenir de l’intelligence,
220.
L’Avenir de l’intelligence,
220.
15
Pierre Lasserre,
Le Romantisme français: essais sur la révolution dans les sentiments et dans les idées aux XlXième siècle,
nouvelle edition (Paris: Mercure de France, 1908), 155 (my translation).
Le Romantisme français: essais sur la révolution dans les sentiments et dans les idées aux XlXième siècle,
nouvelle edition (Paris: Mercure de France, 1908), 155 (my translation).
16
Quoted in Ricks, T. S.
Eliot and Prejudice
(Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988), 13.
Eliot and Prejudice
(Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988), 13.
17
See PeterAckroyd, T. S.
Eliot:
A Life (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1984), 42.
Eliot:
A Life (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1984), 42.
18
My account of the Bernstein demonstrations is drawn from Eugen Weber’s Action
Française: Rayalism and Reaction in Twentieth-Century France
(Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1962), 83-84; information about Maurras’s articles is from Nancy Hargrove’s “‘Un Present Parfait’: Eliot and La Vie Parisienne, 1910-1911,” in T S.
Eliot at the Turn of the Century
, ed. Marianne Thormahlen (Lund, Sweden: Lund University Press, 1994), 49. Eliot later nostalgically recalled witnessing one of the riots instigated by the
camelots
in 1910; see “A Commentary,”
Criterion
13 (April 1934): 453.
Française: Rayalism and Reaction in Twentieth-Century France
(Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1962), 83-84; information about Maurras’s articles is from Nancy Hargrove’s “‘Un Present Parfait’: Eliot and La Vie Parisienne, 1910-1911,” in T S.
Eliot at the Turn of the Century
, ed. Marianne Thormahlen (Lund, Sweden: Lund University Press, 1994), 49. Eliot later nostalgically recalled witnessing one of the riots instigated by the
camelots
in 1910; see “A Commentary,”
Criterion
13 (April 1934): 453.
19
Michael H. Levenson, A
Genealogy of Modernism
:
A Study of English Literary Doctrine,
1908-1922 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984), 80-102. Hulme’s writings were eventually collected, by Karen Csengeri, in a chronologically correct edition, in which Csengeri notes the confusion caused by Read’s edition.
The Collected Writings of T
E.
Hulme
(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994).
Genealogy of Modernism
:
A Study of English Literary Doctrine,
1908-1922 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984), 80-102. Hulme’s writings were eventually collected, by Karen Csengeri, in a chronologically correct edition, in which Csengeri notes the confusion caused by Read’s edition.
The Collected Writings of T
E.
Hulme
(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994).
20
The syllabi of Eliot’s extension courses were first published by Ronald Schuchard, in “T. S. Eliot as Extension Lecturer, 1916-1919,”
Review of English Studies
, n. s. 25 (1974): 163-73, 292-304. See also Schuchard,
Eliot’s Dark Angel:
Intersections
of Life and
Art (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 26-32.
Review of English Studies
, n. s. 25 (1974): 163-73, 292-304. See also Schuchard,
Eliot’s Dark Angel:
Intersections
of Life and
Art (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 26-32.
21
Julien Benda,
Belphegor
, trans. S. J. I. Lawson (New York: Payson and Clarke, 1929), 3.
Belphegor
, trans. S. J. I. Lawson (New York: Payson and Clarke, 1929), 3.
22
Benda,
Belphegor
, 113.
Belphegor
, 113.
23
Benda,
Belphegor
, 117. Benda was himself the son of a Jewish tradesman who had emigrated from Belgium.
Belphegor
, 117. Benda was himself the son of a Jewish tradesman who had emigrated from Belgium.
24
Benda,
Belphegor,
123.
Belphegor,
123.
25
Benda,
Belphegor,
80-81.
Belphegor,
80-81.
26
T. S. Eliot to Scofield Thayer, August 10, 1920,
Letters,
401.
Letters,
401.
27
Criterion
1 (April 1923): 242.
1 (April 1923): 242.
28
T. S. Eliot, “The Idealism of Julien Benda,”
New Republic
57 (December 12, 1928): 105.
New Republic
57 (December 12, 1928): 105.
29
T. S. Eliot,
For Lancelot Andrewes
:
Essays on Style and Order
(London: Faber and Faber, 1928), 7.
For Lancelot Andrewes
:
Essays on Style and Order
(London: Faber and Faber, 1928), 7.
30
The NRF article was by Albert Thibaudet; Eliot subscribed to the magazine after returning to America in 1911. See Herbert Howarth,
Notes on Some Figures Behind
T. S.
Eliot
(Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1964), 177.
Notes on Some Figures Behind
T. S.
Eliot
(Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1964), 177.
31
T. E. Hulme, “A Tory Philosophy,”
Commentator
4 (April 3, 1912); 294.
Commentator
4 (April 3, 1912); 294.
32
See Paul Elmer More to Austin Warren, August 11, 1929, quoted in Arthur Hazard Dakin,
Paul Elmer More
(Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1960), 269 ni.
Paul Elmer More
(Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1960), 269 ni.
33
T. S. Eliot, “
The Action Française,
M. Maurras, and Mr. Ward,”
Criterion 7
(March 1928): 203.
The Action Française,
M. Maurras, and Mr. Ward,”
Criterion 7
(March 1928): 203.
34
T. S. Eliot, “Thoughts after Lambeth,”
Selected Essays
, 342. During the war, after Maurras had become a supporter of Pétain, Eliot conceded that the pope’s condemnation of the Action Française in 1926 was probably sounder than he had argued at the time. See the
Christian News-Letter
, August 28,1940, 1-4. Eliot later deplored the imposition of Nuremberg-style laws on French Jews by the Vichy regime. His remarks on the subject (discussed by Julius) are in the
Christian News-Letter,
September 3, 1941, 1-4.
Selected Essays
, 342. During the war, after Maurras had become a supporter of Pétain, Eliot conceded that the pope’s condemnation of the Action Française in 1926 was probably sounder than he had argued at the time. See the
Christian News-Letter
, August 28,1940, 1-4. Eliot later deplored the imposition of Nuremberg-style laws on French Jews by the Vichy regime. His remarks on the subject (discussed by Julius) are in the
Christian News-Letter,
September 3, 1941, 1-4.
35
T. S. E[liot], “A Commentary,”
Criterion
2 (April 1924): 231.
Criterion
2 (April 1924): 231.
36
T. S. Eliot, “Hamlet,”
Selected Essays,
124-25.
Selected Essays,
124-25.
37
Ford Madox Hueffer, “From China to Peru,”
Outlook
35 (June 19, 1915): 800.
Outlook
35 (June 19, 1915): 800.
38
Kenneth Asher, T S.
Eliot and Ideology
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995), 2-3.
Eliot and Ideology
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995), 2-3.
39
Richard Wollheim,
On Art and the Mind
(Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1974), 249.
On Art and the Mind
(Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1974), 249.
40
Review of
The Yellaw Spot, Criterion
15 (July 1936): 759-60. Belgion later published a strong attack on French anti-Semitism, mentioning Maurras and the Action
Française in particular, along with Georges Bernanos: see “French Chronicle,”
Criterion
18 (January 1939): 297-311.
The Yellaw Spot, Criterion
15 (July 1936): 759-60. Belgion later published a strong attack on French anti-Semitism, mentioning Maurras and the Action
Française in particular, along with Georges Bernanos: see “French Chronicle,”
Criterion
18 (January 1939): 297-311.
41
T. S. E[liot], “A Commentary,”
Criterion
18 (1938): 59.
Criterion
18 (1938): 59.
42
Viscount Lymington,
Famine in England
(London: H. F. and G. Witherby, 1938), 208.
Famine in England
(London: H. F. and G. Witherby, 1938), 208.
43
Lymington,
Famine in England,
43.
Famine in England,
43.
44
A. H. Lane,
The Alien Menace
: A
Statement of the Case
, 4th ed. (London: Boswell, 1933), 20.
The Alien Menace
: A
Statement of the Case
, 4th ed. (London: Boswell, 1933), 20.
45
Gerard Wallop, Earl of Portsmouth, A
Knot of Roots: An Autobiography
(New York: New American Library, 1965), 151.
Knot of Roots: An Autobiography
(New York: New American Library, 1965), 151.
46
Ezra Pound, “Patria Mia, II,”
New Age
11 (September 12, 1912): 466. Readers of “Patria Mia” in Pound’s
Selected Prose 1909-1965
, edited by William Cookson (New York: New Directions, 1973) will not find this sentence. Cookson chose to reprint a later version.
New Age
11 (September 12, 1912): 466. Readers of “Patria Mia” in Pound’s
Selected Prose 1909-1965
, edited by William Cookson (New York: New Directions, 1973) will not find this sentence. Cookson chose to reprint a later version.
47
John Quinn to T. S. Eliot, June 30, 1919; T. S. Eliot to John Quinn, March 12, 1923. The letters are in the Quinn collection at the New York Public Library. They have not been published. Eliot’s letters are being brought out by his widow. The first volume, including letters up to 1922, was published in 1988; no subsequent volume has appeared. Carole Seymour-Jones, in her biography of Eliot’s first wife,
Painted Shadow: The Life of Vivienne Eliot
(New York: Doubleday, 2002), reported that there are anti-Semitic statements in letters by Eliot to Pound still in the archives (see p. 496).
Painted Shadow: The Life of Vivienne Eliot
(New York: Doubleday, 2002), reported that there are anti-Semitic statements in letters by Eliot to Pound still in the archives (see p. 496).
48
T. S. Eliot, “Trois écrivains anglais,”
Aspects de la France et du Monde,
April 25, 1948, 6.
Aspects de la France et du Monde,
April 25, 1948, 6.
49
Asher, T S.
Eliot and Ideology
, 97.
Eliot and Ideology
, 97.
RICHARD WRIGHT: THE HAMMER AND THE NAIL
1
Richard Wright, “How Bigger Was Born” (1940), Early Works, ed. Arnold Rampersad (New York: Library of America, 1991), 874. On Wright’s life, see Addison Gayle,
Richard Wright: Ordeal of a Native Son
(Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1980); Michel Fabre, The
Unfinished Quest of Richard
Wright, trans. Isabel Barzun (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1993); and Hazel Rowley,
Richard Wright: The Life and Times
(New York: Holt, 2001).
Richard Wright: Ordeal of a Native Son
(Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1980); Michel Fabre, The
Unfinished Quest of Richard
Wright, trans. Isabel Barzun (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1993); and Hazel Rowley,
Richard Wright: The Life and Times
(New York: Holt, 2001).
2
Louella Parsons quoted in Donald Bogle,
Blacks in American Films and Television: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
(New York: Simon and Schuster, 1988), 416-17; and see Mason Wiley and Damien Bona,
Inside Oscar
:
An Unofficial History of the Academy Awards
(New York: Ballantine, 1986). Other accounts of McDaniel’s Oscar night indicate that she sat for part of the evening at David O. Selznick’s table: see Carlton Jackson,
Hattie: The Life of Hattie McDaniel
(Lanham, Md.: Madison Books, 1990).
Blacks in American Films and Television: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
(New York: Simon and Schuster, 1988), 416-17; and see Mason Wiley and Damien Bona,
Inside Oscar
:
An Unofficial History of the Academy Awards
(New York: Ballantine, 1986). Other accounts of McDaniel’s Oscar night indicate that she sat for part of the evening at David O. Selznick’s table: see Carlton Jackson,
Hattie: The Life of Hattie McDaniel
(Lanham, Md.: Madison Books, 1990).
3
Irving Howe, “Black Boys and Native Sons” (1963),
Selected Writings
,
1950-1990
(San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990), 121.
Selected Writings
,
1950-1990
(San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990), 121.
4
Richard Wright,
Native Son
(1940),
Early Works, 731
.
Native Son
(1940),
Early Works, 731
.
5
Quoted in “Note on the Texts,” in Wright,
Early Works
, 912.
Early Works
, 912.
6
Wright,
Native Son, Early Works,
476.
Native Son, Early Works,
476.
7
Wright, “How Bigger Was Born,”
Early Works,
862-63.
Early Works,
862-63.
8
Wright, “How Bigger Was Born,”
Early Works,
881.
Early Works,
881.
9
Wright,
Native Son, Early Works
, 706.
Native Son, Early Works
, 706.
10
Keneth Kinnamon, Introduction to
New Essays on Native Son,
ed. Kinnamon (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990), 5-6. Wright mentions these articles on Nixon as a source in “How Bigger Was Born.”
New Essays on Native Son,
ed. Kinnamon (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990), 5-6. Wright mentions these articles on Nixon as a source in “How Bigger Was Born.”
11
Wright,
Native Son, Early Works,
849.
Native Son, Early Works,
849.
12
John M. Reilly, “Giving Bigger a Voice: The Politics of Narrative in Native Son,” in Kinnamon, ed.,
New Essays on Native Son, 60.
New Essays on Native Son, 60.
13
Richard Wright,
Black Boy (1945), Later Works,
ed. Arnold Rampersad (New York: Library of America, 1991), 258-60.
Black Boy (1945), Later Works,
ed. Arnold Rampersad (New York: Library of America, 1991), 258-60.
14
James Baldwin, “Many Thousands Gone,”
Notes of a Native Son (1955), Collected Essays, ed.
Toni Morrison (New York: Library of America, 1998), 27.
Notes of a Native Son (1955), Collected Essays, ed.
Toni Morrison (New York: Library of America, 1998), 27.
15
Wright,
Black Boy
,
Later Works,
235.
Black Boy
,
Later Works,
235.
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