Valin, thanks for the post.
RIP Shelby Foote.
I lost a great friend last week, also born in 1916, a man of massive learning. Much of my friend's contribution was tenebrae service, among the shadows. But like Foote, his was a life spent writing (40 books, hundreds and hundreds of articles). As executor, I had to take away all his books earlier today, and it really flattened me.
But I am grateful for Foote's (and my friend's) modesty, the absence of self-service and self-congratulation. After thousands of research hours, and hundreds of discussion hours with my friend, I consider this the ultimate moral (artistic) code: that what you do as an artist is on behalf of and in furtherance of humanity. It must be life affiriming. If not, it has no place except in the shadow of great art. Our commercial arts, athletic arts, collaborative arts, filmic and television arts are largely of this caste, having no place except in the shadow of great art.
My one issue with Foote's comments: "American poetry, as far as I can see, is as dead as a doornail."
-Not just yet.
My one issue with Foote's comments: "American poetry, as far as I can see, is as dead as a doornail."
-Not just yet.
I hope you're right.