It's such a treat to read your posts. There is so much going on in this one, your loves in college, the woman and Marlowe, mighty swims by Leander, Byron and a try by Rupert Everett. You effortlessly weave in Eliot, Gallipoli, Beckett and Canterbury and close with an almost ghosty storyline. I loved it.
Thank you so much, Leslie! You’re right, there’s a lot going on. This is not exactly the essay I sat down to write, but new guests kept inviting themselves …
His fragment of the poem is actually quite short and well worth the read. Canterbury is easily accessible from London (via St Pancras). Entry to the cathedral isn't cheap, though! It's odd; our national museums are free to enter but not our cathedrals (not this one anyway).
Artistically and artfully written, which always makes your posts lovely to read! And, they never fail to teach me something about literature, history, and culture.
Absolutely wonderful, Jeffrey. Thank you for reminding me about Marlowe's exquisite poem.
To make a less elevated connection, Rupert E's little cameo portrait of Marlowe was a sudden infusion of class and subtlety into Shakespeare in Love, a film otherwise devoid of either. (IMO.)
Jeffrey, perhaps your most marvelously peripatetic of all your peripatetic essays (appropriate to your life and career, no?). I've heard it said (don't ask me where -- I'm just sayin') that the waters from England to Tenerife are the Hellespont of the 1980s.
"I felt the danger of drifting too far into the shadows of antiquity, of becoming a captive to the unrelenting ghosts of history."
Give it up, my friend -- it's a doomed ambition. You make a good case here that we're all tossed by the sea of passion, ambition, and fate, with some fool notion of direction.
Haha! What you say about the Atlantic between England and Tenerife may well be true 🤣
And you're probably right when you so eloquently say, "we're all tossed by the sea of passion, ambition, and fate, with some fool notion of direction."
Many (too many) moons ago I visited Canterbury Cathedral, I too felt the souls of history crossing my path, it was and I'm sure still is, a place worshipping ghosts of the literary past and yet, still I have never read Marlowe's Hero and Leander though it was recommended at the time. Thank you for reintroducing me to a forgotten poem Jeffrey.
Lovely, thank you, Jeffrey. I was perhaps most moved by your moments in the cathedral, which reminded me of Philip Larkin: “A serious house on serious earth it is,
In whose blent air all our compulsions meet,
Are recognised, and robed as destinies.” I, too, have experienced that almost vertiginous kaleidoscopic layering of histories… though mine occurred most potently and unexpectedly in Winchester Cathedral.
Again, Jeffrey, I’m learning about things I didn’t know I didn’t know. But I do remember reading Murder in the Cathedral at school, eons ago (I lived in Kent at the time). Thank you.
A brilliant read. I can't quite reconcile myself to someone 'finishing' an unfinished work by a great writer, no matter how erudite they may be. It somehow seems the height of hubris. I can so relate to your phrase about becoming 'a captive to the unrelenting ghosts of history.' Deliciously put.
Thank you, June! Actually, Chapman wasn't the only one. Henry Petowe, much less known, also did so. I guess one thing to add is that the story was already known to all; public property, if you like. Perhaps it felt a bit like repairing an ancient vase?
Absolutely brilliant, Jeffrey. I felt like I was back there, and there really is such an "oppressive orthodoxy and gloom" to the place! I too have to be mindful not to get kidnapped by ghosts when in spots thick with antiquity. That said, if I'm honest, whenever I'm Winchester cathedral that's exactly what I'm hoping will happen...
Thank you, Chloe! I get what you mean about wanting to be kidnapped by ghosts... But I guess for me, it might depend on the place and on the ghosts themselves...
This is wonderful, Jeffrey and you are so good at weaving together strands from poetry, biography, history, geography and personal memoir- the casual note at the end mentioning your brief appearance with Rupert Everett is brilliant! (I am on a train now, appropriately for the travel theme of your piece, so will watch the video when I get home.) Do you know Fiona Stafford’s books? I reviewed Time and Tide last year (glowingly) for the TLS and your writing really reminds me of hers. Just lovely.
Thank you so much, Ann! I just checked out Time and Tide, and it looks just like the kind of book I'd enjoy – I've just ordered it. Thanks for the tip (and the flattering comparison).
One of the perks of being a (part-time) reviewer, getting asked to read books I might not otherwise have read! I think you will enjoy it (once it gets going!)
It's such a treat to read your posts. There is so much going on in this one, your loves in college, the woman and Marlowe, mighty swims by Leander, Byron and a try by Rupert Everett. You effortlessly weave in Eliot, Gallipoli, Beckett and Canterbury and close with an almost ghosty storyline. I loved it.
Thank you so much, Leslie! You’re right, there’s a lot going on. This is not exactly the essay I sat down to write, but new guests kept inviting themselves …
A reminder of the past and present interconnections that accompany and haunt us everywhere we wander.
A nourishing meal for a hungry mind; thank you.
I've never read Marlowe's Hero and Leander or visited Canterbury. I must make the effort to do both!
His fragment of the poem is actually quite short and well worth the read. Canterbury is easily accessible from London (via St Pancras). Entry to the cathedral isn't cheap, though! It's odd; our national museums are free to enter but not our cathedrals (not this one anyway).
Artistically and artfully written, which always makes your posts lovely to read! And, they never fail to teach me something about literature, history, and culture.
Thank you, Yi! I learnt a lot from this one, too 😊. My memories started connecting in ways I couldn't have imagined before.
Absolutely wonderful, Jeffrey. Thank you for reminding me about Marlowe's exquisite poem.
To make a less elevated connection, Rupert E's little cameo portrait of Marlowe was a sudden infusion of class and subtlety into Shakespeare in Love, a film otherwise devoid of either. (IMO.)
Thank you, Laura! And I'd forgotten that Everett was in that film. It adds a charming layer to the story.
Jeffrey, perhaps your most marvelously peripatetic of all your peripatetic essays (appropriate to your life and career, no?). I've heard it said (don't ask me where -- I'm just sayin') that the waters from England to Tenerife are the Hellespont of the 1980s.
"I felt the danger of drifting too far into the shadows of antiquity, of becoming a captive to the unrelenting ghosts of history."
Give it up, my friend -- it's a doomed ambition. You make a good case here that we're all tossed by the sea of passion, ambition, and fate, with some fool notion of direction.
Haha! What you say about the Atlantic between England and Tenerife may well be true 🤣
And you're probably right when you so eloquently say, "we're all tossed by the sea of passion, ambition, and fate, with some fool notion of direction."
Many (too many) moons ago I visited Canterbury Cathedral, I too felt the souls of history crossing my path, it was and I'm sure still is, a place worshipping ghosts of the literary past and yet, still I have never read Marlowe's Hero and Leander though it was recommended at the time. Thank you for reintroducing me to a forgotten poem Jeffrey.
A great read Jeffrey. It was fantastic to both read some of Marlowe’s work and read your own thoughts about him and his life. :)
Thank you, Michael! I really appreciate your comments.
My pleasure Jeffrey :)
Lovely, thank you, Jeffrey. I was perhaps most moved by your moments in the cathedral, which reminded me of Philip Larkin: “A serious house on serious earth it is,
In whose blent air all our compulsions meet,
Are recognised, and robed as destinies.” I, too, have experienced that almost vertiginous kaleidoscopic layering of histories… though mine occurred most potently and unexpectedly in Winchester Cathedral.
Thank you, Michelle and those lines from Larkin are lovely. Vertiginous kaleidoscopic layering of histories is a wonderful way of expressing it.
I think we both love a voluptuous phrase, Jeffrey. I appreciate you liking all my darlings.
"Unlike Leander, I didn’t need to produce any heroics to bridge the gap but just save up for an airfare." 😂😂😂
Perhaps a poem is in order, sir, to describe your trials and tribulations?
If only I could oblige. But I think it's better if I stick to prose, Lani! 😊
This is one of my favourite Substacks. Every essay is just wonderful and enriching.
Thank you for your kind words, Oonagh. I'm so glad to hear that you enjoy the English Republic of Letters.
Such an interesting braid of places and readings, well knit together!
Thank you, Victoria! 😊
Again, Jeffrey, I’m learning about things I didn’t know I didn’t know. But I do remember reading Murder in the Cathedral at school, eons ago (I lived in Kent at the time). Thank you.
Thank you for your kind comment, Nicola. I guess Kent is a good place to read the play! 🙏
Beautifully stitched, Jeffrey!
Thank you!
A brilliant read. I can't quite reconcile myself to someone 'finishing' an unfinished work by a great writer, no matter how erudite they may be. It somehow seems the height of hubris. I can so relate to your phrase about becoming 'a captive to the unrelenting ghosts of history.' Deliciously put.
Thank you, June! Actually, Chapman wasn't the only one. Henry Petowe, much less known, also did so. I guess one thing to add is that the story was already known to all; public property, if you like. Perhaps it felt a bit like repairing an ancient vase?
Absolutely brilliant, Jeffrey. I felt like I was back there, and there really is such an "oppressive orthodoxy and gloom" to the place! I too have to be mindful not to get kidnapped by ghosts when in spots thick with antiquity. That said, if I'm honest, whenever I'm Winchester cathedral that's exactly what I'm hoping will happen...
Thank you, Chloe! I get what you mean about wanting to be kidnapped by ghosts... But I guess for me, it might depend on the place and on the ghosts themselves...
Yes. Very wise. The Canterbury ghosts seem a bit more nefarious than the Winchester to me, for some reason 🤷🏻♀️
This is wonderful, Jeffrey and you are so good at weaving together strands from poetry, biography, history, geography and personal memoir- the casual note at the end mentioning your brief appearance with Rupert Everett is brilliant! (I am on a train now, appropriately for the travel theme of your piece, so will watch the video when I get home.) Do you know Fiona Stafford’s books? I reviewed Time and Tide last year (glowingly) for the TLS and your writing really reminds me of hers. Just lovely.
Thank you so much, Ann! I just checked out Time and Tide, and it looks just like the kind of book I'd enjoy – I've just ordered it. Thanks for the tip (and the flattering comparison).
One of the perks of being a (part-time) reviewer, getting asked to read books I might not otherwise have read! I think you will enjoy it (once it gets going!)