Wednesday 9 May 2007

A Commonplace Book

Newmania is condemned to travelling in a train for some hours a day. Just the thing for keeping a commonplace book, I thought. But why must commonplace books be produced only in train thrall? I am going to consult Auden, then make a start - a free-range commonplace book.

3 comments:

Newmania said...

Never heard the word before HG why Auden ? You mean WH Auden ?

hatfield girl said...

He of the crumpled face. I am not where the books are right now so this is example is from the net.

'We are not commanded (or forbidden) to love our mates, our children, our friends, our country because such affections come naturally to us and are good in themselves, although we may corrupt them. We are commanded to love our neighbor because our “natural” attitude toward the “other” is one of either indifference or hostility.
ATTRIBUTION:
W.H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907–1973), Anglo-American poet. “Neighbor, Love of One’s,” A Certain World (1970)."

'A certain world' is his commonplace book where he noted what was noteworthy, and remarked on it.

My copy has a deep brown/maroon cover with white title and author. (I find it helps to see books as their covers look, do you?)

Newmania said...

Imagine what his balls looked like , as someone once said. I will have to order that HG not that Amazon ever delivers anything nowadays. Never had that sort of relationship with books HG.

( Really love the quote)