I am a drinker of words, one who gets drunk by turning pages. For a drunk it is nearly impossible to savor a glass of rare wine. Full bodied and sensual, the liquid will pass his lips as he passes judgment. Although his intellect will tell him not to, he will swill the liquid after the first few sips. A rapture of sensations will permeate his being, and he will crave more, intensely, so that he may have rapture and symphony all at once. An explosion will come into and throughout his body, and he will attempt to recreate the experience night after night. Soon he will be forced to cast aside the glass and try to forget the joy. A few days and months may pass and he will feel as if he has won the battle, the struggle with his internal demons, and then will find sitting on his night stand a cut crystal glass full of the burgundy liquid, begging him to enjoy.
Let me state unequivocally from the start that Edward Hirsch's book, THE DEMON AND THE ANGEL, is a rare bottle of Château de Rothschild to be savored and swilled at the same time. I had put the title aside, not because it was bad, but rather it is the work of brilliance and demands time to be read properly, not rushed. The drunk in me wanted to slam the words down my gullet and allow them to stumble around. As the day to day pressures of the world condensed around me, I found the glass at my bedside and went back for more.
THE DEMON AND THE ANGEL is the study of what sets certain artists above and beyond others. It is the study of the force that drives the green fuse, so to speak. In his work Hirsch writes about Frederico Garcia Lorca and the influence of the Duende upon him. Duende, according to Hirsch, is primarily a Spanish phenomena, a demon who comes to and imbues the artist with a desire to create. To create is to be like God, the original creator. Michelangelo gave us a glimpse of the spark of creation, life, when he portrayed God giving the gift of life, the spark, to Adam. God remembers the first man, and Angels as messengers remind us of the spark of creation. These demons of creation inhabit the soul of the artist, whisper in their ears and compel them to do incredible work. I am sure that this oversimplification of Hirsch's tome will not do as far as explaining his work.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ed Hirsch about a year ago. He was invited to Greenville by the English Department of East Carolina University to read for The Writer's Reading Series. At our local art museum, he stood at the podium and read. His voice carried the room, and his laughter was infectious. During the Q&A session, a young student engaged Hirsch in a conversation about an article the student had read by Hirsch dealing with Lorca's duende. Hirsch was excited, answered his questions, and let us all know that he was developing a book exploring the theme in much greater detail. After the meeting I was approached by the series director, Julie Fay, and asked if I would pick up Ed the following morning and take him to the airport. Would I? You bet. All I can say is that the short drive to the airport was one I will remember for quite some time.
THE DEMON AND THE ANGEL is a brilliant follow-up to his best seller, HOW TO READ A POEM AND FALL IN LOVE WITH POETRY. Edward Hirsch is a master of knowledge conversion. He is extremely well read and well versed in the arts and has the uncanny ability to express and explain his theories to scholars and lay people alike. If you are one who loves and appreciates the arts, then I urge you to pick up this volume and read. I say this not because I have met him, but out of a true and deep respect for his work. One may say an angel sits upon his shoulder directing him to fulfill his mission.
As the evening winds down, I notice a few volumes of his poetry are sitting on my night stand begging come read. The night draws to a close, most lights have been clicked off, alarms have been set and double checked. Tomorrow will come soon enough. For now, a strong thirst is welling up in my throat and I desire a nightcap. Drink his words, they are well worth the hangover.
--- Reviewed by Tony Parker
Click here now to buy this book from Amazon.
© Copyright 1996-2008, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
Back to top.
