Towards Democracy
“Civilization sinks and swims, but the old facts remain—the sun smiles, knowing well its strength.” Edward Carpenter (1844-1929) wrote his prose poem, Towards Democracy, styled after Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, in a summer burst of creativity. “Early in 1881, no doubt as the culmination and result of struggles and experiences that had been going on, I became conscious that a mass of material was forming within me, imperatively demanding expression . . .” An English intellectual, Carpenter was in rebellion against Victorian prudery. Railing against Industrialization’s dehumanization, he preached a return to a simple life in harmony with Nature. Towards Democracy reads like Beat poetry—wild flowing word associations, moments of insight so clear they hurt, interspersed with pure rant! Included is an essay Carpenter wrote in 1894 explaining his intent and feelings in writing Towards Democracy. - Summary by Sue Anderson
Genre(s): Poetry, Social Science (Culture & Anthropology)
Language: English
Section | Chapter | Reader | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Play 00 | Preface: A Note on Towards Democracy | Sue Anderson |
00:21:50 |
Play 01 | I - IX | Sue Anderson |
00:27:17 |
Play 02 | X - XVI | Sue Anderson |
00:23:20 |
Play 03 | XVII - XXIV | Sue Anderson |
00:17:10 |
Play 04 | XXV - XXXI | Sue Anderson |
00:18:28 |
Play 05 | XXXII - XXXVI | Sue Anderson |
00:14:52 |
Play 06 | XXXVII - XL | Sue Anderson |
00:22:43 |
Play 07 | XLI - XLVI | Sue Anderson |
00:15:51 |
Play 08 | XLVII - LI | Sue Anderson |
00:17:56 |
Play 09 | LII - LV | Sue Anderson |
00:17:16 |
Play 10 | LVI - LX | Sue Anderson |
00:13:36 |
Play 11 | LXI - LXV | Sue Anderson |
00:14:10 |
Play 12 | LXVI - LXX | Sue Anderson |
00:10:37 |