The Death of Picasso: New & Selected Writing

Rating:
Summary: Somewhat disappointed
Review: Having previously read and reread Guy Davenports' Geography of the Imagination, I was prepared to say that anything written by him would be worth reading. However, I was disappointed that a man of such erudition would have to resort to some of the homoerotic passages in his The Death of Picasso. Despite this crtitcism, I find Davenport to be exciting because he constantly leads the reader to explore new subjects.

Rating:
Summary: Superb writing by a master of prose-poems
Review: I received this book just a few weeks after receiving the sad news of the death of Guy Davenport, somewhere around the cusp of the New Year 2005. It contains, I imagine, the very best of Davenport's prose-poems, collected in a single volume.

What delights await the reader! So far I have located "Boys Smell Like Oranges" and "Dinner at the Bank of England" -- both of which you will want to read again and again.

"Oranges" is just a sketch of two old friends strolling through a garden in Paris, juxtaposed with a sketch of boy soccer-players, who are relaxing and chatting about life. In a very strange way, the chat of the two (highly cultured) old Frenchmen -- concerning the relationship between language and reality -- harmonizes deliciously with the pungent romps of the young footballers, who are far removed from the world of the old men, still entranced by sensuality and the physical thrill of football combat. This is a beautiful piece of writing.

"Bank of England" is just as well-crafted. It is a wonderful re-creation of a visit paid by the eminent American philosopher George Santayana to a very handsome young English soldier. The two had met when the Englishman came to Boston, and now Santayana has gone to repay the visit in London. From the first paragraphs, it is evident that Santayana is utterly smitten by the young soldier -- and we do not quite know just how aware the handsome soldier is of this strong emotion. Whatever -- they have a lovely dinner together, and at 11 o'clock, Santayana goes off, back to his rooming house.

Both of these pieces are extremely moving, and full of brilliant insights. I really cannot recommend a book more highly!

Enjoy, enjoy!!

Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Introduction to the Only Author I Re-Read
Review: The title story of this generous new collection is one of my all-time favorites. I read voraciously, and have several favorite authors, but Davenport is the only one I habitually return to and re-read. DEATH OF PICASSO will introduce you properly to the MacArthur genius award recipient who remains largely unknown despite being arguably the nation's finest stylist. Guy Davenport's fictions are multi-layered delights. You can root around in them again and again, each time finding new nuggets and making new connections and cross-connections to his other work and to the larger world of fact and literature. D of P includes not just fictions but also criticism, which in Davenport's case mean not dull stuff for insiders but richly detailed and entertaining adventures. If you are looking for enormous talent and knowledge, displayed in writing that always delights, Davenport deserves your attention. The only thing lacking in D of P is his excellent drawings, which he has from time to time employed to add still another layer to his unique confections. Take a chance, buy this book. You may find that you have stumbled across the author you should have been reading all along.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing. Each story a Jewel!
Review: This is a collection of masterful short stories. You will read each one with pleasure.