Robert Graves (1895-1985) was one of the greatest poets and polymaths of the twentieth century, whose long life matched the intensity of his imaginative output. From his distinguished exploits in the First World War, described in his memoir GOODBYE TO ALL THAT, to his dramatic relationships with women, most notably the American poet and essayist Laura Riding, his life was one of extremes: he sought pain, took huge emotional risks, and lived as if each day were his last. First published to mark the centenary of his birth, ...
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Robert Graves (1895-1985) was one of the greatest poets and polymaths of the twentieth century, whose long life matched the intensity of his imaginative output. From his distinguished exploits in the First World War, described in his memoir GOODBYE TO ALL THAT, to his dramatic relationships with women, most notably the American poet and essayist Laura Riding, his life was one of extremes: he sought pain, took huge emotional risks, and lived as if each day were his last. First published to mark the centenary of his birth, Miranda Seymour's acclaimed biography was written with the full co-operation of the Graves family. Her interviews and correspondence with many people who have not previously discussed Graves in public contribute to a rich and complex portrait of a troubled man and a great creative artist. "I have never been able to understand the contention that a poet's life is irrelevant to his work," Graves said. Miranda Seymour puts Graves's statement to the test in this superb biography and, thrillingly, demonstrates its validity.
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Add this copy of Robert Graves: Life on the Edge to cart. $2.94, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Henry Holt & Company.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Robert Graves: Life on the Edge to cart. $6.99, very good condition, Sold by Half Price Books Inc rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Henry Holt & Co.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Yes, if you are interested in twentieth century poets, this is a good resource, well-written and resourced. However, it is long, detailed, and not always able to hold the attention. The man himself is larger than life, exceedingly strange, and very talented at losing friends and administering hurt to people who had the misfortune to love him. A study in meglomania, which can weigh on the spirits if you try to follow it all the way through. The subtitle, "Life on the Edge", is exact. SInce Graves suffered all his life from the traumas of his WWI service, he may well have lived in the inner landscape of Borderline Personality Disorder.
Liam
May 29, 2007
A good readable biography
While not as detailed, or as long, as Seymour-Smith's, this is a very readable acount of Graves' life. If you only wanted one biography, this is the more accessible. It feels thin in the second half, and tends to concentrate more on the man than his writing. The "problem" for all Graves' biographers seems to be how to deal with his "muses'. Seymour brushes over them. On the other hand, Beryl Graves emerges as a character in her own right.
