A Defense of Ardor: Essays

Adam Zagajewski's collection begins with the eloquent defense expressed in the book's title essay, and though the other pieces never quite rise to the same level, each is worthwhile in its own way. Actually, the first two essays seem to me to be part and parcel with one another. One defends passion, the other argues against modernity's 'low style' stripped down narratives. These two discussions alone were worth the price of the book, which I found where you find a great deal of quality writing these days - remaindered to the bargain bin. (But that's another argument for another day.) The other essays in the book seem loosely grouped around two themes - either eulogistic tributes to his fellow Polish poets, or nomadically entertaining reminiscences of a poet's life. I had first been interested in the book because I thought it dealt more with cultural criticism - no matter, Mr. Zagajewski's style is friendly and informal, and, as both an ambassador from Poland and a man who experienced life in the Eastern Bloc, his point of view is both novel and illuminating. The poets he celebrates may be obscure to me, and poetry itself is not where my principle interest lies, but the author's infectious manner and commentary make this a gratifying collection. My fiancée often asks me why I read books that are full of references to people and other writings with which I'm unfamiliar, and I never know how to reply because I think the answer is embedded in the question. Nevertheless, readers who may be interested in this particular work should be aware that 'A Defense of Ardor', along with a short critique of global cultural mores, primarily deals with Polish poets and poetry (Zbigniew Herbert, Czeslaw Milosz, Jozef Czapski), and Mr. Zagajewski's own memoirs of the craft. Where he excels is in lifting these topics from their provincial setting and teasing out their universal appeal. Ardor is lucky to have such a defender.

Worth it for the essay "The Shabby and Sublime" alone, Zagajewski's prose is as lucid and insightful as his poetry. These essays are philosophical without being academic, complex without being obscure. Even if you've read very little contemporary poetry, Zagjewski's essays are illuminating and offer a defense of what's worth defending in poetry: an encounter with the sublime.