This is a Sunday post perfectly suited to an English major’s heart. I’m going back after my other necessary chores to watch everything you’ve given me.
I looked it up, and "eat your heart out" is a very old expression that originally meant being extremely sad. I wonder if Crane was thinking about it when he wrote the poem...
Thanks for the literary history lesson. My wife and I both had moms who were public school English teachers. Our daughter is a university English professor. This was a nice treat on a Sunday morning. I knew a bit about Crane, and of course read The Red Badge of Courage. I had never read that poem. Wow, Crane said a lot in a few words, and your beautiful interpretation was just as good. Thank you for this today.
This has been a welcome respite from the shallow and I believe deluded and depraved chaos around us. I never believed my fellow Christian citizens would decide electing the Antichrist as president was a great idea………..3 times!
Thanks, Rick. I'm glad you liked the piece and the poem. And it is mindboggling that God-fearing people would vote for the Antichrist, but here we are...
This morning I started reading his first novel, the one about the Bowery. It's very good. Here's one sentence, where he's describing the entertainment at a Bowery club:
"Two girls, on the bills as sisters, came forth and sang a duet that is heard occasionally at concerts given under church auspices. They supplemented it with a dance which of course can never be seen at concerts given under church auspices."
I use the link because Substack plays HELL with line breaks in comments. And these lines are almost perfect, in a way I can't describe. They simply BELONG one after the other.
Wonderfully observed and expressed, Greg--effective testimony to the urgency of restoring literary study (and especially the study of American literature) to its once lofty position throughout the curriculum, k-12, and above all at the college level. Kudos to you for throwing the spotlight on Crane and his work, for bracketing as you do the literary interim between the two presidential assassinations, and for contextualizing it all in what's happening to us today. Arguably, of course, the current decline in the standing of English as a major--along with the humanities in general--helps explain why all those insurrectionists behaved as they did on January 6th, 2021, why Trump has such thorough among today's so-called Republicans, and more generally why we're losing our way. As for me, I find myself wondering whether noisy Ivy leaguers like Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, J.D. Vance and various other such rightward member of congress have read much American literature. A little more Emerson, Longfellow, Hawthorne, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, etc., and of course Crane, might have humanized them. All well taught, of course, Can you imagine Margery Taylor Greene making her way through Henry James's "Portrait of a Lady"? More broadly, congratulations for elevating your Sunday contributions a major week-end feature for me.
Sometimes, Greg, as prolific as I can be, you cover it all. This is one of those weeks. Thanks!
And one of my YouTube guilty pleasures is Helen, and I haven't seen this one, so off to YouTube I go, hoping not to fall into the Sunday afternoon rabbit hole. Wish me luck!
I hope it worked out okay, Steve...I think I did a decent job reading the poem. At least, I didn't stumble over the words. And I pronounced "gyre" correctly.
Thanks Greg for the in depth look at Stephen Crane beyond “The Red Badge of Courage.”
Your opening mention of diphtheria, reminded me of a book my mom gave me when I was in medical school: “The Horse And Buggy Doctor” by Arthur E. Hertzler, M.D., published in 1938. So I dug it out from my bookshelves. Here’s a few words from someone who was involved with the transition of diphtheria from highly deadly to eminently treatable. The first from Chapter 1, while the last are from the final page.
“ ‘Protect us, O God, from diphtheria!’ These ringing words uttered by my father at morning prayers were my first introduction to the tragedy of diseases…Eight of nine children in that one family [not his family] had died of diphtheria in ten days.
After more than sixty years I can still hear the eloquent prayers that filled the countryside when epidemics of diphtheria appeared. One tube of antitoxin will do more than all of these.”
The reason that far too many Americans are willing to abandon the progress made in taming infectious disease ever since Edward Jenner in the late 1700s (smallpox) is that they have no personal experience with how bad things once were.
Thanks, John. And: yes! Americans have no idea how bad it was before vaccines, or how bad it was under fascism. Ugh.
In my genealogical research, I found that the firstborn son of Stephen Olejar, who came to New York in the 1880s, died of diphtheria. The NYC epidemics were terrifying. He, my great great grandfather, was six feet tall and worked as a "saloonkeeper" off the Bowery. So there is some small chance that he poured one out for Mr. Crain, one Stephen to another.
Between reading this piece and commenting on it I watched your interview on Irish Granny Tarot—which was much more interesting to me, and potentially more terrifying, than “Eating.” Your nod to Tarot interests me, as someone who has publicly done Tarot readings myself. I really appreciate your saying, near the end, “Biden’s going to win!” I love Helen, but her commitment to being “realistic” is less reassuring, to me, than other psychics I follow who are specifically committed to allaying fear and reassuring that all will be well—and who clearly “see” Biden winning the election. I thoroughly enjoyed that review of your book! And the Yeats poem!
Thanks for watching, Earl! It's always fun to talk to Helen, who is a lovely human. I just now finished a podcast interview, and after talking to my guest, I am even more convinced Biden will win.
Crane “got around”…a lot! I think about his poor mother who had to endure those pregnancies and miscarriages. She was probably miserable and possibly abused. Thanks for mentioning Crane. Had actually forgotten about him but I saw that you mentioned Longfellow whose poetry I used to read in school. Humanities was an entire department in college, not in my high school. What I really want to see emerge again is Civics! I will try and find the time to listen to your podcasts. Thanks, Greg.
This is a Sunday post perfectly suited to an English major’s heart. I’m going back after my other necessary chores to watch everything you’ve given me.
Thank you, Katharine!
VAIN is the chiming of forgotten bells
That the wind sways above a ruined shrine.
Vainer his voice in whom no longer dwells
Hunger that craves immortal Bread and Wine.
…
This lovely poem by Joyce Kilmer,, who died too young, yielded me titles for three independently published books.
Billserle.com
Thanks for a delightful Sunday read.
One of these weeks I'll write about him...
One of your best.
Thank you!
The last sentence punched hard, silly funny and profound. What a memorable ending. Really enjoyed this piece, Greg.
Thanks, Judy.
I looked it up, and "eat your heart out" is a very old expression that originally meant being extremely sad. I wonder if Crane was thinking about it when he wrote the poem...
Thanks for the literary history lesson. My wife and I both had moms who were public school English teachers. Our daughter is a university English professor. This was a nice treat on a Sunday morning. I knew a bit about Crane, and of course read The Red Badge of Courage. I had never read that poem. Wow, Crane said a lot in a few words, and your beautiful interpretation was just as good. Thank you for this today.
This has been a welcome respite from the shallow and I believe deluded and depraved chaos around us. I never believed my fellow Christian citizens would decide electing the Antichrist as president was a great idea………..3 times!
Thanks, Rick. I'm glad you liked the piece and the poem. And it is mindboggling that God-fearing people would vote for the Antichrist, but here we are...
Sadly, I have used the word mindboggling the last 9 years with Trump exponentially more than in my whole 71 years of living.
Another great Sunday literature lesson, a much needed diversion, thank you.
Thank you, Old Man!
I "should" read more poetry, but I don't. This poem reminds me of why I should.
Not what it "means", but where it takes me. Thanks again.
Thanks, Rick. This one is great because it's short, and every time you read it you think of a different angle to it. That's what the best poetry does.
Excellent!
Thanks, Gail!
I've always like that one. But my favorite Crane poem is:
A man said to the universe:
“Sir, I exist!”
“However,” replied the universe,
“The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation.”
Hot DAMN, that's a good one!
This morning I started reading his first novel, the one about the Bowery. It's very good. Here's one sentence, where he's describing the entertainment at a Bowery club:
"Two girls, on the bills as sisters, came forth and sang a duet that is heard occasionally at concerts given under church auspices. They supplemented it with a dance which of course can never be seen at concerts given under church auspices."
I read Maggie long ago. Another great piece is The Open Boat with the famous first line "None of them knew the color of the sky"
And another zinger of a poem is "Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind" It is right up there with Dulce et Decorum Est. See https://mypoeticside.com/show-classic-poem-6592
I use the link because Substack plays HELL with line breaks in comments. And these lines are almost perfect, in a way I can't describe. They simply BELONG one after the other.
Wonderfully observed and expressed, Greg--effective testimony to the urgency of restoring literary study (and especially the study of American literature) to its once lofty position throughout the curriculum, k-12, and above all at the college level. Kudos to you for throwing the spotlight on Crane and his work, for bracketing as you do the literary interim between the two presidential assassinations, and for contextualizing it all in what's happening to us today. Arguably, of course, the current decline in the standing of English as a major--along with the humanities in general--helps explain why all those insurrectionists behaved as they did on January 6th, 2021, why Trump has such thorough among today's so-called Republicans, and more generally why we're losing our way. As for me, I find myself wondering whether noisy Ivy leaguers like Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, J.D. Vance and various other such rightward member of congress have read much American literature. A little more Emerson, Longfellow, Hawthorne, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, etc., and of course Crane, might have humanized them. All well taught, of course, Can you imagine Margery Taylor Greene making her way through Henry James's "Portrait of a Lady"? More broadly, congratulations for elevating your Sunday contributions a major week-end feature for me.
Thanks, Paul. I wonder if we will see a drift back towards the Humanities, and English literature especially. I'd like to think so.
(I also snuck Longfellow in there -- a little foreshadowing for your piece, which will run next Sunday.)
Sometimes, Greg, as prolific as I can be, you cover it all. This is one of those weeks. Thanks!
And one of my YouTube guilty pleasures is Helen, and I haven't seen this one, so off to YouTube I go, hoping not to fall into the Sunday afternoon rabbit hole. Wish me luck!
I hope it worked out okay, Steve...I think I did a decent job reading the poem. At least, I didn't stumble over the words. And I pronounced "gyre" correctly.
Thanks Greg for the in depth look at Stephen Crane beyond “The Red Badge of Courage.”
Your opening mention of diphtheria, reminded me of a book my mom gave me when I was in medical school: “The Horse And Buggy Doctor” by Arthur E. Hertzler, M.D., published in 1938. So I dug it out from my bookshelves. Here’s a few words from someone who was involved with the transition of diphtheria from highly deadly to eminently treatable. The first from Chapter 1, while the last are from the final page.
“ ‘Protect us, O God, from diphtheria!’ These ringing words uttered by my father at morning prayers were my first introduction to the tragedy of diseases…Eight of nine children in that one family [not his family] had died of diphtheria in ten days.
After more than sixty years I can still hear the eloquent prayers that filled the countryside when epidemics of diphtheria appeared. One tube of antitoxin will do more than all of these.”
The reason that far too many Americans are willing to abandon the progress made in taming infectious disease ever since Edward Jenner in the late 1700s (smallpox) is that they have no personal experience with how bad things once were.
Thanks, John. And: yes! Americans have no idea how bad it was before vaccines, or how bad it was under fascism. Ugh.
In my genealogical research, I found that the firstborn son of Stephen Olejar, who came to New York in the 1880s, died of diphtheria. The NYC epidemics were terrifying. He, my great great grandfather, was six feet tall and worked as a "saloonkeeper" off the Bowery. So there is some small chance that he poured one out for Mr. Crain, one Stephen to another.
Today I received my renewal post for your newsletter. Reading today’s post is a perfect example of why I will renew.
Great but typical post. Thanks.
Thank you! Please know that I always appreciate it and never take it for granted.
Between reading this piece and commenting on it I watched your interview on Irish Granny Tarot—which was much more interesting to me, and potentially more terrifying, than “Eating.” Your nod to Tarot interests me, as someone who has publicly done Tarot readings myself. I really appreciate your saying, near the end, “Biden’s going to win!” I love Helen, but her commitment to being “realistic” is less reassuring, to me, than other psychics I follow who are specifically committed to allaying fear and reassuring that all will be well—and who clearly “see” Biden winning the election. I thoroughly enjoyed that review of your book! And the Yeats poem!
Thanks for watching, Earl! It's always fun to talk to Helen, who is a lovely human. I just now finished a podcast interview, and after talking to my guest, I am even more convinced Biden will win.
Crane, Kilmer, Whitman and Bruce ~fascinating read on another Jersey Boy. Thanks...
Crane “got around”…a lot! I think about his poor mother who had to endure those pregnancies and miscarriages. She was probably miserable and possibly abused. Thanks for mentioning Crane. Had actually forgotten about him but I saw that you mentioned Longfellow whose poetry I used to read in school. Humanities was an entire department in college, not in my high school. What I really want to see emerge again is Civics! I will try and find the time to listen to your podcasts. Thanks, Greg.