Guy Davenport, it could be argued, literally saved my life, though I’m sure it was unintentional. In 1981, when the book was published, I had just given up on a career in philosophy and was about to give up on academe completely. To say that I had no idea what to do with my life - well, I still don’t. That book, though! That book! After happening upon it at the library, I couldn’t stop reading it. I mean, I’d finish it and start again, repeatedly. Something about those essays, so learned, so free of cant- something about them gave me the courage to imagine a bookish life outside of the academy, and to just go on living, pretty much. (And he lived his entire life without getting a driver’s license, which is probably the only thing we have in common.)
Somewhere along the way I'd gotten it into my head that Davenport was forbiddingly dry. Thanks to your review, I'm gonna go find "The Geography of Imagination" this weekend.
Guy Davenport, it could be argued, literally saved my life, though I’m sure it was unintentional. In 1981, when the book was published, I had just given up on a career in philosophy and was about to give up on academe completely. To say that I had no idea what to do with my life - well, I still don’t. That book, though! That book! After happening upon it at the library, I couldn’t stop reading it. I mean, I’d finish it and start again, repeatedly. Something about those essays, so learned, so free of cant- something about them gave me the courage to imagine a bookish life outside of the academy, and to just go on living, pretty much. (And he lived his entire life without getting a driver’s license, which is probably the only thing we have in common.)
He is the best and it fucks me up on the inside when people don’t know who he is
Somewhere along the way I'd gotten it into my head that Davenport was forbiddingly dry. Thanks to your review, I'm gonna go find "The Geography of Imagination" this weekend.
It’s true, but he is the real definition of critical academic, unlike those who add “Critical” before title of every course and subject. https://www.theonion.com/area-woman-will-eat-anything-with-tuscan-in-name-1819570608
Every Force Evolves a Form Took Me Forever To Read. But it was worth it.