Dorothy Shakespear’s notebook entry from February 16, 1909, captures the electric moment Ezra Pound entered her life. “‘Ezra.’ Listen to it––Ezra! Ezra!––And a third time––Ezra!… Some people have complained of untidy boots––how could they look at his boots, when there is his moving, beautiful face to watch!” This exclamation marks not just the beginning of a romance, but also a pivotal period in literary history. Their ensuing correspondence, spanning over six decades until Pound’s death in 1972, offers a unique window into the development of early modernism. This article focuses on Dorothy Shakespear’s role in this crucial era, exploring their relationship and the significance of their unpublished letters from 1909-1914.
Contents
Unpublished Letters: A Treasure Trove of Literary History
While the entirety of their correspondence holds literary value, the pre-marital letters (1909-1914) are particularly significant. These years represent a crucial period in Pound’s literary development and the shaping of modernism, yet they remain largely unexplored. D.D. Paige’s standard edition of The Selected Letters of Ezra Pound omits almost all correspondence from 1910-1911 and includes only a handful from 1912-1913. Ezra Pound and Dorothy Shakespear: Their Letters 1909-1914 fills this gap, offering over two hundred previously unpublished letters and diary entries.
A Catalyst for Modernism: Pound’s Artistic Evolution
These letters provide a detailed account of Pound’s artistic exploration and his search for a new poetic style. They reveal a dynamic young expatriate navigating two literary generations, forging friendships with established figures like Yeats and Ford Madox Hueffer while also connecting with contemporaries like Wyndham Lewis and Gaudier-Brzeska. Dorothy Shakespear, as both his confidante and future wife, played a vital role in this formative period.
Echoes of the Past: The Pisan Cantos
The significance of these early years resonates even in Pound’s later work. In The Pisan Cantos (1945), written amidst the ruins of his personal and political life, Pound repeatedly revisits the people and events of 1909-1914. This suggests that the memories of this period, deeply intertwined with Dorothy Shakespear, served as an anchor in a disintegrating world.
A Deeper Understanding: Annotations and Context
Ezra Pound and Dorothy Shakespear: Their Letters 1909-1914 offers valuable context through meticulous annotations by Omar Pound, translator and bibliographer of Wyndham Lewis, and A. Walton Litz, a renowned scholar of modern literature. The book further enriches our understanding through a biographical appendix focusing on lesser-known figures mentioned in the letters, unpublished early poems by Pound transcribed by Dorothy, family charts including Pound’s ancestry, unpublished illustrations, and a comprehensive index.
Dorothy Shakespear: More Than a Muse
Dorothy Shakespear’s presence in these letters extends beyond that of a passive recipient. Her insights and observations offer a unique perspective on the burgeoning modernist movement. The collection provides a glimpse into their intellectual and emotional connection, highlighting her influence on Pound’s artistic journey.
Conclusion: A Legacy Revealed
The letters of Ezra Pound and Dorothy Shakespear offer an invaluable resource for understanding the genesis of modernism and the complex figure at its heart. They reveal not only Pound’s artistic evolution but also the profound influence of Dorothy Shakespear, whose presence shaped this crucial period in literary history. The publication of these letters invites us to re-examine the narrative of early modernism and to recognize the vital role played by Dorothy Shakespear.