Llewelyn Powys (1884–1939)

"The more one tries to analyze oneself the more one is conscious of amazing paradoxes and inconsistencies which lurk under the simplest surface." And so J.C.P does exactly that. He launches into a confessional that is rampantly earnest but at the same time shrewdly conscious. Dictionary to hand, I enjoyed every drop of his flurry. This book was to involve all five brothers but ended up being just John and Llewlyn. The latter producing a diarist piece that was more reflective and less show more probing. Llewlyn states in his introduction that he felt a "confession" was more akin to airing one's sins. Both men were liberally open-minded for their time and it is no wonder that John was a writer's writer, inspiring many a new wave of literally rebel. I can mark the effectiveness of a book by the amount of book tags I place in the pages and in this book, I marked thirteen. It is a cursory read and whatever is missing in the text makes the writing more intriguing. John delves into his aesthetics and addresses some of the common themes of death, religion et cetera. Llewlyn, on the other hand, plies the reader with his thoughts and observations, only touching on the surface. Both staunch atheists, there's no parable in what's written, it's an earthy attempt at undressing humanity in a modest way. It certainly has me in the pursuance of more John Cowper Powys and I wouldn't mind reading Llewlyn's Skin for Skin. show less

This is a reprint of the 1936 edition published by John Lane. According to another review, the beautiful Gibbings woodcuts are better reproduced in the reprint than in the original. Llewelyn, brother of John Cowper and TF, was brought up with them in the rectory of Montacute, Somerset. His writing demonstrates a deep knowledge of, and love for, the English countryside and its inhabitants in the days before SatNavs, almost before cars and aeroplanes.

Among other things: "You must avoid being cheap and self-assertive". ...but do not talk nonsense about "inspiration"".
"You must improve your mind in every way, not for show".
"...your spiritual intensity which should be inexhaustible".
and
"In your relations with girls it is essential to get out of your own skin and watch their delicate evasive psyches wavering to and fro as a cat watches a mouse, and keep casting the golden net of your imagination about them, and they will grant you the most show more charming favours".
There you have it; timely advice from the youngest of the Powys brothers to Kenneth Hopkins, poet, novelist, biographer, children's writer, editor and essayist. show less