The Cantos

[Benny Bunter]

I propose in 2022 that we read the pisan cantos together as a group. Yyaldrin and catalog will buy a copy, then there's woops', craner, jenks and hasn't @version already got one? Who else is in? It's so much easier and more fun than reading alone.

 

[luka]

you can buy it as a slim standalone edition too. i have at least one.

 

[luka]

i dont think they are as good as the early ones but they're more interesting in terms of all the other stuff that goes into them.

The Pisan Cantos

Ezra Pound’s The Pisan Cantos were written in 1945, while the poet was being held in an American military detention center near Pisa, Italy, as a result of his pro-Fascist wartime broadcasts to America on Radio Rome. Imprisoned for some weeks in a wire cag...

www.ndbooks.com

 

[luka]

have another foul Spanish brandy to celebrate

 

[luka]

 

[Benny Bunter]

Yeah, if not the pisan cantos some of the earlier ones would be worth doing. I did enjoy those more on first read and they're a lot shorter

 

[catalog]

I'm up for this, a smaller single book rather than 1000 pages commitment. I'll see if I can get it from the library.

 

[Benny Bunter]

I'm probably getting ahead of myself tbh, still only just scratching the surface of this one.

Catalog, I found a second hand as new copy of the big cantos book (new directions edition) for 12 euros or something, well worth it.

 

[luka]

I'm probably getting ahead of myself tbh, still only just scratching the surface of this one.

Catalog, I found a second hand as new copy of the big cantos book (new directions edition) for 12 euros or something, well worth it.

but on the other hand you can fit the pisan cantos into the pocket of your joy division overcoat

 

[Benny Bunter]

I'm up for this, a smaller single book rather than 1000 pages commitment. I'll see if I can get it from the library.

I think if you see it as a commitment that you have to read the whole thing in order from beginning to end, you'll be put off before you even begin. You're never going to read it all properly or understand it all but that doesn't mean you won't get something out of it.

And if it turns out you do get an abridged copy and you really like it, you'll be pissed off you don't have the entire thing, as happened to @woops

 

[Benny Bunter]

That RAW article was great btw

 

[luka]

the selected cantos also isnt very good. its not worth owning. the pisan cantos is worth owning but the selection for the selected is perverse.

 

[Benny Bunter]

Just buy the big black brick and have done with it!

 

[Benny Bunter]

the selected cantos also isnt very good. its not worth owning. the pisan cantos is worth owning but the selection for the selected is perverse.

Is it his own selection?

 

[luka]

i think so but cant remember for sure. catalog are you still drinking like a 15 year old? or are you over that phase now?

 

[catalog]

I've been curbing. I've made a new rule, no drinking at home, unless I'm with someone. Generally been a bit low alcohol as a result. And stopped smoking too. Dunno if it will last. Going for a pint now.

 

[catalog]

They only had the big black brick in the library so I've reserved it. Will probably take ages to come. I've still got the kenber book, I never read it, think I'd prefer to read some of the poems first.

 

[luka]

They only had the big black brick in the library so I've reserved it. Will probably take ages to come. I've still got the kenber book, I never read it, think I'd prefer to read some of the poems first.

theres lots of the poems on dissensus for you to read

 

[Benny Bunter]

God what a nutter

"Any man with the mental capacity above that of a warthog..."

 

[catalog]

Got really drunk just had a fag now went right to my head fell over in the street etc great