The Poet's Tongues: Multilingualism in Literature (The de Carle Lectures at the University of Otago, 1968) - Hardcover

Forster, Leonard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521077664 ISBN 13: 9780521077668

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1970

Synopsis

In this study of poetry written in languages other than the poet's native tongue Professor Forster begins with a general survey of multilingualism and its effects on literature. This is followed by a survey of medieval examples, with the main emphasis on Latin as lingua franca and language of scholarship. In the nineteenth century the concept of language as a function of nationality arose and 'language-loyalty' came to play an important part. With Dadaism and Surrealism language once again became simply material with which the poet worked and in principle any language was as good as another. Professor Forster examines with particular attention works by Milton, Stefan George, Rilke, T. S. Eliot and James Joyce. His discussion leads to more general questions of the relationship between the poet and his medium.

About this title

Book Description:

In this study of poetry written in languages other than the poet's native tongue Professor Forster begins with a general survey of multilingualism and its effects on literature. This is followed by a survey of medieval examples, with the main emphasis on Latin as lingua franca and language of scholarship.

About the Author:

Margaret Forster is the author of best-selling memoirs, "Hidden Lives" and "Precious Lives," acclaimed biographies of Daphne du Maurier and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and of many successful novels, most recently "The Memory Box,"

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1970
• ISBN 10: 0521077664
• ISBN 13: 9780521077668
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 101