Auden, stalwart of principled taste and refined pleasures, left a gem of an essay on reading, and by extension reviewing, in the prologue of his book The Dyer’s Hand. Called simply “Reading,” the essay, delivered epigrammatically, plainly annotates Auden’s thoughts on the art of reviewing and his expectations of it. It’s worth noting Auden’s prowess in the evaluation process–as judge of the Yale Series of Younger Poets in the middle of the 20th century, he helped recognize and bring to print the first books of John Ashbery, John Hollander, W.S. Merwin, Adrienne Rich, and James Wright. It’s an eclectic mix of poets, for sure, and further points to Auden’s astonishing ability to distinguish quality above the trappings of style and subjective personal preferences. I can’t think of a prize, or judge, that has accomplished as much.
In “Reading,” Auden prescribes a report card for reviewers and critics, of sorts. His rationale is this:
So long as a man writes poetry or fiction, his dream of Eden is his own business, but the moment he starts writing literary criticism, honesty demands that he describe it to his readers, so that they may be in the position to judge his judgments.
He then proceeds to list his preferred aspects of an “Eden,” by providing details to the following list. I’ll provide just a few of his answers. The parenthetical indicates Auden’s response in the essay:
1.) Landscape
2.) Climate (British)
3.) Ethnic Origins of Inhabitants
4.) Language
5.) Weights & Measures (Irregular and complicated. No decimal system.)
6.) Religion
7.) Size of Capital
8.) Form of Government (Absolute monarchy, elected for life by lot.)
9.) Sources of Natural Power
10.) Economic Activities
11.) Means of Transport (Horses and horse-drawn vehicles, canal barges, balloons.)
12.) Architecture
13.) Domestic Furniture and Equipment
14.) Formal Dress (The fashions of Paris in the 1830’s and ’40’s)
15.) Sources of Public Information (Gossip)
16.) Public Statues (Confined to famous defunct chefs.)
17.) Public Entertainments
Of course, he’s kidding–sort of. One gets the sense he means this earnestly in the approximate proportion that the list is an ironic gesture. Imagine that a list like this could be something of a permit accompanying publication. To publish, you’d need to have your answers prepared–they’d be logged in the back, with the acknowledgments.
If a book title piques Susie Creamcheese’s interest, she could flip back and find out if the author is a quack or not. At the very least, she could learn if the author reserves statuary for the exclusive memory of the gastronically gifted. Or this: that the author isn’t coming from a completely different, incompatible, or contradictory perspective. One should always know what sort of mud one is about to wallow in.
I say, why not? Here’s mine:
1.) Landscape (Rolling Hills, barns, cornfields)
2.) Climate (Seasonal, in a pre-global warming kind of way)
3.) Ethnic Origins of Inhabitants (American, in all the attending complexities)
4.) Language (No matter, but all speech should be iambic)
5.) Weights & Measures (Only described in metaphors)
6.) Religion (Still thinking about this one.)
7.) Size of Capital (Roughly approximate to Portland, Oregon)
8.) Form of Government (Popular-vote democracy)
9.) Sources of Natural Power (Solar, Wind, Water)
10.) Economic Activities (Barter system. Art is prized.)
11.) Means of Transport (Horses and horse-drawn vehicles, canal barges, balloons, bicycles–Auden got this right.)
12.) Architecture (Varied)
13.) Domestic Furniture and Equipment (No matter, but no plastics)
14.) Formal Dress (1920’s urban)
15.) Sources of Public Information (Public Radio, newspaper–no televisions)
16.) Public Statues (Confined to famous defunct chefs–Auden nailed this one)
17.) Public Entertainments (Yard games, music without amplification, potlucks)
At least at the moment, as something of a chump critic, that’s my Eden. Presuming your own critical faculties, send along your answers below.