Fans Of Ezra Pound

Although not the most well known poet, Ezra Pound was probably the most influential poet of the twentieth century. He is key figure in Modernism, he knew Yeats, Eliot, Joyce and others; suypporting their works and giving them encouragement. Influenced by Browning, Yeats (whom he considered the greatest living poet) and others he pioneered the "Imagist" school of poetry; a poetics based on clear, sharp language that gave the reader a clear, sharp image. Example:

"The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on a wet, black bough."

He lived in Italy during Mussolini's day, and became a fan of the fascists regime, making a number of speeches over Radio Rome in which he condemned World War Two and made anti-Semitic remarks. He gace himself up to the Partisans and was handed over to US forces, who imprisoned him in a cage in a camp near Pisa. It was here that he suffered a nervous breakdown and wrote the 'Pisan Cantos' - the most celebrated section of his monumental work 'The Cantos of Ezra Pound.' He avoided execution of being a traitor and spent thirteen years in a mental hospital, where he was declared as incurably insane. He lived out his last years quietly in Italy.

Despite his deplorable politics, I think that his poetry is well worth reading. Therefore, I have created this group for fans to discuss his work, and, if you want, to post writing inspired by Pound's. Everyone is welcome to join.

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  Jean P. Prudhomme
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  Thomas Sabel
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  Trystan

[more members]