The Swinburne Controversy. (1866.)
This work is a collection of essays that defend the poet's reputation against charges of obscenity and immorality. It argues that Swinburne's poetry is a legitimate expression of artistic freedom and that his critics are motivated by prudery and intolerance. The essays also explore the cultural and historical context in which Swinburne wrote, highlighting the tensions between traditional values and modernity.
By James Stamers · First published 1866 · Genre: Literary Criticism, Essay, Social Commentary · 2,695 words
First lines
Not having read Mr. Swinburne's "Poems and Ballads," I have nothing to say on the special case in which they are involved. A few of the adverse critiques I have chanced to see, and these almost avail to convince one that Mr. Swinburne is a true poet. The _Saturday Review_, shocked out of the complacency of its stark peevishness, cried, "Pretty verses these to read aloud to young ladies in the drawing-room! " As if there were any great book in existence proper to read aloud to young ladies in drawing-rooms! and as if young ladies in drawing-rooms were the fit and proper judges of any great book! I should like to watch the smuggest and most conceited of Saturday Reviewers attempting to read aloud to young ladies in a drawingroom certain chapters in the Bible, certain scenes of Shakespere, certain of the very best passages in Chaucer, Spenser, Dryden, Pope, Swift, Fielding, Sterne, Smollett, Burns, Byron, Shelley. When Mr. Swinburne answers that he writes for full-grown men and women, the acute _Fun_ affirms that men have read his book and have condemned it. As if our present brood of periodical critics were men! At home in private life, some of them probably are; but in their critical capacity, that is to say incapacity, how many of them have any virility? The _Athenaeum_ squashes the detestable book by proclaiming that it contains such and such things in the style of Alfred de Musset, George Sand, Victor Hugo, Ovid, etc.; that is to say, in the style of some of the best Latin and modern French writers! As for _Punch_, he makes a joke worthy of his present lively condition (were it not for Mr. C. H. Bennett, one would say that there was no blood at all left in Mr. Punch when the great Leech dropped off), suggesting that the author should take the appropriate name of Swine-born. But the mass of our present critics are so far beneath contempt that we will waste no more time upon them.
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The Swinburne Controversy. (1866.) is listed on Textopian as a short story by James Stamers, dated 1866 CE.
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- Work type: Short story
- Author: James Stamers
- Date: 1866 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Criticism, Essay, Social Commentary, Satire, Philosophical
- Length: 2,695 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Literary Criticism — The text critiques contemporary literary criticism and the reception of literature, focusing on the response to a specific poet's work.
- Essay — The work is structured as an argumentative essay, presenting a coherent argument about the state of literature and criticism.
- Social Commentary — The text provides commentary on societal norms and the influence of conservative values on literature.
- Satire — The writing employs satirical elements to mock critics and societal attitudes towards literature.
Tags
Literary Criticism · Poetry Analysis · Victorian Era · Aesthetic Movement · Controversy · Censorship · Obscenity Laws · Free Speech · Social Commentary · Morality · Religion · Philosophy