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The Demon and the Angel: Searching for the Source of Artistic Expression

Review

The Demon and the Angel: Searching for the Source of Artistic Expression



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 on January 21, 2011

The Demon and the Angel: Searching for the Source of Artistic Expression
by Edward Hirsch

  • Publication Date: April 1, 2003
  • Genres: Nonfiction
  • Paperback: 348 pages
  • Publisher: Mariner Books
  • ISBN-10: 0156027445
  • ISBN-13: 9780156027441