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In 1914 a remarkable poetic work appeared in Sydney, Australia, written in the form of a Symbolist livre composé by one of Stephane Mallarmé’s earliest admirers, Christopher Brennan.
The book, simply titled Poems, shows that Brennan was exploring pressing religious issues of his time. He melded Western esoteric currents such as alchemy and Rosicrucianism with Romantic literature and philosophy and French Symbolist theory.
This book argues that the focus of Poems is the notion of a higher self. It is the first major study of Brennan’s work in this broad religious, philosophical and literary context. Its argument is supported by evidence from Brennan's own library and the holdings of the Sydney library in which he worked.
The book, simply titled Poems, shows that Brennan was exploring pressing religious issues of his time. He melded Western esoteric currents such as alchemy and Rosicrucianism with Romantic literature and philosophy and French Symbolist theory.
This book argues that the focus of Poems is the notion of a higher self. It is the first major study of Brennan’s work in this broad religious, philosophical and literary context. Its argument is supported by evidence from Brennan's own library and the holdings of the Sydney library in which he worked.
Price: $229.00
Pages: 324
Publisher: Brill
Imprint: Brill
Series: Aries Book Series
Publication Date:
30 June 2006
ISBN: 9789004152212
Format: Hardcover
"Erudite and impassioned, Katherine Barnes makes a powerful case for rediscovering Brennan’s beautiful and challenging poetry. By contextualising his work within the thought and poetry of Europe, particularly French and German romanticism, mysticism and symbolism, she allows us to see his poems in all their intricate richness, and to hear their wonderfully intense system of echoes. Not just Australians, but lovers of poetry worldwide owe her a debt of gratitude."
Rosemary Lloyd, Rudy Professor of French, Indiana University
Rosemary Lloyd, Rudy Professor of French, Indiana University
Katherine Barnes, Ph.D. (2003) in English, Australian National University, is a lecturer in English at the Australian Defence Force Academy campus of the University of NSW. She is the author of several articles on Brennan and co-editor of Words for Their Own Sake: The Pursuit of Literature in an Economic Rationalist World (2004).