I just happened upon a copy of Wolf Solent whilst visiting in a truly awful rundown half way house for men proper down and out.... There it was in amongst the self helps and dodgey novels- The cover showing 'Entrance to a Lane' by Graham Sutherland drew me to it initially and I have to say Im now half way through and thoroughly enjoying...I look forward to exploring JCP more including your 'Powysland' to be sure; many thanks and kindest regards.
I Love JCP. I 'found' him in 1979 and have adored him ever since. I'm presently on another rereading of Owen Glendower. What a vision! What sublime imagery!
I love Powys, Visions and Revisions, Enjoyment of Literature, his novels, right now I'm reading Religion of a Sceptic. He certainly should be more widely known and admired...
Hi Tim When last abroad in 2009, I did my own little Powys pilgrimage to Wales including Corwen and Blanau. At Corwen I ran into an old neighbour of John’s who remembered him as a boy. They lived next door. He had an autographed copy of OwenGlendower he showed me. I also went to Weymouth and Maiden Castle. Lots of fun. There’s a lovely plaque on his little house in Blanau.
I read Porius two years back, and thought it was perhaps the best novel written; this was the recently revised edition. Amazing, even by Powys standard and I have read most of his work. When you read this book, you realize why he is not and never will be accepted by academia. His great gift is to write not only from the mind ( most high literature), not just from the feeling, but from a whole perspective including the mystical sense. Who else in great literature describe clouds, rain, moss and mushrooms like him, .. not to mention humans, love, desire, fear and all the rest of our experience? Louis
1:30 I second that. Porius is incredible, as is A Glastonbury Romance, Maiden Castle, Weymouth Sands and on and on. Discovered one of his early philosophical books on the littered floor of a semi-derelict second - hand bookstore in Liverpool. I picked it up, saw one sentence and was hooked. It was as though the book had found me. JCP was more than a favourite novelist, he was a guide, a magician, a confidant, a friend who was always there. I visited his house in Corwen about twenty years ago. He was long dead of course, but somehow still around. As I was sitting on a grassy mound outside the gate a woman, the present occupant came out, she had some idea why I was there. She brought me round the back and into the garden where The Black was buried. The Black was his most beloved dog. Greater Love Hath No Man he'd inscribed on the slate gravestone of the dog. But don't be fooled JCP was no sloppy sentimentalist, he was one of Britain's greatest geniuses.
Read OWEN GLENDOWER last month and thought it was astounding. Now am working my way through A GLASTONBURY ROMANCE, which is equally vivid and startling. An amazing writer, although I can see why he would be an acquired taste--or outright reviled--for some.
Do you mean the eroticism in his writing? I for one enjoyed all that in his writings but I an sure many will hate it. Maybe this is why he isn't as famous and, say, a Dostoevsky. In Dostoevsky the battle is between God and Satan. Odd that this battle has fans on both sides. So those for God and thos for Satan can still enjoy that sort of thing. So writers like Dostoevsky are super famous. But poor Powys wrote about orgasm and so half the human race departs like a fart in the wind!
I just happened upon a copy of Wolf Solent whilst visiting in a truly awful rundown half way house for men proper down and out.... There it was in amongst the self helps and dodgey novels- The cover showing 'Entrance to a Lane' by Graham Sutherland drew me to it initially and I have to say Im now half way through and thoroughly enjoying...I look forward to exploring JCP more including your 'Powysland' to be sure; many thanks and kindest regards.
myboythom
I read it recently too. Extraordinary novel.
I Love JCP. I 'found' him in 1979 and have adored him ever since. I'm presently on another rereading of Owen Glendower. What a vision! What sublime imagery!
I love Powys, Visions and Revisions, Enjoyment of Literature, his novels, right now I'm reading Religion of a Sceptic. He certainly should be more widely known and admired...
The man was a wizard of prose and of great story telling.
Hi Tim
When last abroad in 2009, I did my own little Powys pilgrimage to Wales including Corwen and Blanau. At Corwen I ran into an old neighbour of John’s who remembered him as a boy. They lived next door. He had an autographed copy of OwenGlendower he showed me. I also went to Weymouth and Maiden Castle. Lots of fun. There’s a lovely plaque on his little house in Blanau.
Roger Jones! What a character he is -
I read Porius two years back, and thought it was perhaps the best novel written; this was the recently revised edition. Amazing, even by Powys standard and I have read most of his work. When you read this book, you realize why he is not and never will be accepted by academia. His great gift is to write not only from the mind ( most high literature), not just from the feeling, but from a whole perspective including the mystical sense. Who else in great literature describe clouds, rain, moss and mushrooms like him, .. not to mention humans, love, desire, fear and all the rest of our experience? Louis
1:30 I second that. Porius is incredible, as is A Glastonbury Romance, Maiden Castle, Weymouth Sands and on and on. Discovered one of his early philosophical books on the littered floor of a semi-derelict second - hand bookstore in Liverpool. I picked it up, saw one sentence and was hooked. It was as though the book had found me. JCP was more than a favourite novelist, he was a guide, a magician, a confidant, a friend who was always there. I visited his house in Corwen about twenty years ago. He was long dead of course, but somehow still around. As I was sitting on a grassy mound outside the gate a woman, the present occupant came out, she had some idea why I was there. She brought me round the back and into the garden where The Black was buried. The Black was his most beloved dog. Greater Love Hath No Man he'd inscribed on the slate gravestone of the dog. But don't be fooled JCP was no sloppy sentimentalist, he was one of Britain's greatest geniuses.
The best german writter Hans Henny Jahnn was a big fan of Powys.
Read OWEN GLENDOWER last month and thought it was astounding. Now am working my way through A GLASTONBURY ROMANCE, which is equally vivid and startling. An amazing writer, although I can see why he would be an acquired taste--or outright reviled--for some.
Do you mean the eroticism in his writing? I for one enjoyed all that in his writings but I an sure many will hate it. Maybe this is why he isn't as famous and, say, a Dostoevsky. In Dostoevsky the battle is between God and Satan. Odd that this battle has fans on both sides. So those for God and thos for Satan can still enjoy that sort of thing. So writers like Dostoevsky are super famous. But poor Powys wrote about orgasm and so half the human race departs like a fart in the wind!
I wish I would have seen this years ago -- now I can't find a copy of Powysland anywhere. Did it ever get published?
Hi - should still be available from Sundial Press - thanks