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Revolution and Romanticism
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A facsimile reprint in the Revolution & Romanticism series chosen and introduced by Jonathan Wordsworth ISBN 1 85477 080 2 174 x 110 mm 670 pages |
ROBERT SOUTHEY Thalaba the Destroyer 1801 Launching his attack on the Lakers in his review of Thalaba in the Edinburgh Review of October 1802, Francis Jeffrey described it as ‘little else than his commonplace book versified’. Thalaba is stuffed with amazing, magical, beautiful and frightening incident, recondite learning and colourful description. The arabian warrior hero overcomes incredible obstacles to learn that faith is more powerful than magic and forgiveness mightier than revenge. Southey’s use of the Arabian Nights seems to liberate his mind, stimulating him to ever more wonderful fantasies. His voluminous notes provide a feast of arcane learning of the kind that absorbed all the Romantic poets. It should come as no surprise that Thalaba was a key poem for the Shelley of Queen Mab. £45 $75 Thalaba has ever been to my feelings the most sublime of English poems - I don’t know Spenser - I mean morally sublime. |
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