I happen to have just started to read Dr Zhivago and also read about Pasternak's tragic life. You are right - the poems I learnt in childhood and youth have sung in my head all my life - Shakespeare, Shelley, Keats, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Tennyson. The last two lines of Sonnet 30 - how fortunate anyone is who has someone about whom they can feel that.
In the span of 60 seconds during Murray's recitation of the sonnet, I became lost so deep into reflective thought that upon its completion, I felt that I had been transported from the world on an hour's journey and could nary recall where I was, how I had arrived there, nor recognize a path back. I have never had an experience like that before.
This sonnet reminds me of Wordsworth’s I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. I had our sons memorize it when they were children. Even though it’s a children’s poem, I still enjoy reciting it to myself. I wonder if our boys, who are now in their late 20s, remember it.
Beautiful story, but still only the legend. Pasternak translated only three sonnets: 66, 73, 74. I combed through the Russian sources about Pasternak and found that he gave speech about his position and his work. He recognized his mistakes. It was humorous and self-deprecating speech. There is no consensus how he avoided repressions. He wrote letters to Stalin to defend some of his colleagues and friends and Stalin actually called him. After that call he was left alone
Mr. Murray, I looked through a number of Russian publications, and they say that Pasternak translated only three sonets: 74 in 1938, 66 in 1940, and 73 in 1953. It must have been somebody else's translation. But the story is worth remembering, thank you. And being able to reach into memory to recite to yourself and others wonderful poetry is incredible.
I can’t wait to hear it, Douglas! I need something uplifting. And Sunday is the perfect day for it. Even agnostics/atheists need a pep talk to get through Life. Actually, I should say especially agnostics/atheists need the erudite inspiration you will bring to us once a week.
|Desperate moods and desperate means for desperate times.
Recite "30" -- of course. But ask and ponder also the question: Shall our need for it be much greater or much less in the time which remains to us? Shall our coming days be more like or less like those through which Pasternak --and Shakespeare, who had a friend when he needed one--lived?
This is exquisitely necessary. Absolutely beautiful.
And thank you for educating me on the origins of the title "Remembrance of Things Past", which may allude to Shakespeare but doesn't capture "À la recherche du temps perdu" as well as "In Search of Lost Time". I can see the reasoning behind Moncrieff's decision, though.
Same here. I also research everywhere. I cannot find even a few lines from Pasternak's supposed translation of #30.
I happen to have just started to read Dr Zhivago and also read about Pasternak's tragic life. You are right - the poems I learnt in childhood and youth have sung in my head all my life - Shakespeare, Shelley, Keats, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Tennyson. The last two lines of Sonnet 30 - how fortunate anyone is who has someone about whom they can feel that.
In the span of 60 seconds during Murray's recitation of the sonnet, I became lost so deep into reflective thought that upon its completion, I felt that I had been transported from the world on an hour's journey and could nary recall where I was, how I had arrived there, nor recognize a path back. I have never had an experience like that before.
This sonnet reminds me of Wordsworth’s I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. I had our sons memorize it when they were children. Even though it’s a children’s poem, I still enjoy reciting it to myself. I wonder if our boys, who are now in their late 20s, remember it.
Sadly, I hadn’t read this Sonnet before this post. For what it’s worth, I wrote it today from memory. :)
Beautiful story, but still only the legend. Pasternak translated only three sonnets: 66, 73, 74. I combed through the Russian sources about Pasternak and found that he gave speech about his position and his work. He recognized his mistakes. It was humorous and self-deprecating speech. There is no consensus how he avoided repressions. He wrote letters to Stalin to defend some of his colleagues and friends and Stalin actually called him. After that call he was left alone
Mr. Murray, I looked through a number of Russian publications, and they say that Pasternak translated only three sonets: 74 in 1938, 66 in 1940, and 73 in 1953. It must have been somebody else's translation. But the story is worth remembering, thank you. And being able to reach into memory to recite to yourself and others wonderful poetry is incredible.
Reminds me of Rust Cohle's "Time is a flat circle" line from True Detective season one (one of the best shows ever).
Thank you for this new series. It is especially meaningful to me.
I can’t wait to hear it, Douglas! I need something uplifting. And Sunday is the perfect day for it. Even agnostics/atheists need a pep talk to get through Life. Actually, I should say especially agnostics/atheists need the erudite inspiration you will bring to us once a week.
Thank you for this marvelous idea, Douglas.
|Desperate moods and desperate means for desperate times.
Recite "30" -- of course. But ask and ponder also the question: Shall our need for it be much greater or much less in the time which remains to us? Shall our coming days be more like or less like those through which Pasternak --and Shakespeare, who had a friend when he needed one--lived?
This is exquisitely necessary. Absolutely beautiful.
And thank you for educating me on the origins of the title "Remembrance of Things Past", which may allude to Shakespeare but doesn't capture "À la recherche du temps perdu" as well as "In Search of Lost Time". I can see the reasoning behind Moncrieff's decision, though.
Looking forward to more.
Lavrentiy Beria: A man very high on the list of most evil person in the 20th century.
This is great. I was hoping Douglas Murray would write for Free Press!
Thank you!! Sold. See you next Sunday Douglas. :)
I never got Shakespeare unfortunately. All I have is this which I recently heard in church. And when I feel despondent, I read it.
Lord,
it is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys,
new possibilities.
In your name we pray.
Amen.