Sverba, I agree with you that there has been a little too much parsing of that blog post. I fear as well that this thread had turned into a discussion of whether Clark Ashton Smith was a Romantic or not -- but I think that such a discussion is important and ought to be clarified rather than ignored, in spite of the awkwardness of its position in this thread.
Jojo, I have something that I want you to read: [
www.eldritchdark.com]
After reading Smith's poetic love letter to Romanticism, also consider this quote from a letter to Virgil Finlay:
"I believe that you should congratulate yourself on being, as you say, "out of tune with your generation." Undoubtedly a serious condition of unbalance is prevalent at the present time, as indicated by exclusive or excessive preoccupation with drink, amorous orgies, etc. This seems to be part of the intense materialism, "realism," or whatever you want to call it, of the age. Modern science, philosophy and invention are at least partly responsible. Some day there will be a return toward mysticism, a recovery of spiritual values. The question is, will it come before - or after Armageddon? I am not making any predictions; but the query is more than pertinent."
(The letter in its entirety may be read here: [
www.eldritchdark.com])
A very unusual paragraph to be written by an anti-Romantic who is preoccupied with portraying the grosser material side of sexuality!
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 3 Nov 08 | 12:08PM by ArkhamMaid.