re. Re: [NP] Hollander

[Dave Monroe]

Having now actually met him in person, and having
spoken with him by phone several times before/since, I
can safely say, I like Mr. Hollander.  Yeah, I know,
it's best not to get into arguments with him, but he
has I believe sincerely solicited critiques of his
works (so if anyone has any constructive criticism on
that Dante draft ...), and it's beside the point to
complian that he's not clued in enough on the
"current" (or, at any rate, last thirty years or so)
of, i don't know, "literary discourse" or whatever, as
he's largely kept himself outside of it (the surprise
recent deployment of Harold Bloom's "anxiety of
influence" excepted).  But he deos basic reserch no
one else bothers to do, and what he does with it is
always interesting, and often compelling, even.  And
he's certainly hit on some recurring themes (i.e.,
disinheritance) that are well worth examining.  Okay,
I gotta run, so ...

--- lorentzen-nicklaus
<lorentzen-nicklaus at t-online.de> wrote:
> 
> Actually it's the other way round. From all the 
> close-minded intellectuals I've met in my life
> (and there are dozens!) Hollander is the guy who's
> topping them all ... When he sent to me his articles
> we started an offlist discussion which simply faded
> out after 3 months because he couldn't take ANY (I
> repeat this: ANY) critical argument.He even wanted
> to explain German post-war history to me with the
> help of conspiracy theories ... Thing is the guy has
> a daughter yet no son, so he collects all these
> father-seeking youngsters (Yep, that's how he got
> me hooked, too) to have a little compensation. Some
> of his ideas are not bad. But he knows neither
> enough theory nor can he write, so none of his
> articles reaches the status of serious scholarship
> à la Eddins, McHale or Tanner. And that Dante
> piece ...  
> 
> Will the real Hollander-enthusiast please stand up?!


		
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