Rimbaud and Jim Morrison: The Rebel as Poet

Wallace Fowlie gives us a fascinating comparison of the life and writing of Jim Morrison to Rimbaud. In 1968 Fowlie, a college professor of French literature, received a letter from Jim Morrison thanking him for his translation of Rimbaud. Morrison's name was meaningless to Fowlie, who was not familiar with the music of the Doors. After a student gave him a copy of No One Here Gets Out Alive, Fowlie noticed the references to Morrison's interest in Rimbaud, and recalling the letter, he started researching Morrison's life and his writing. He discovered many instances where lyrics were obviously influenced by Rimbaud. Using the mythical Jim Morrison as lure, Fowlie made French symbolist poetry come alive with his innovative lectures. By exploring the social and political conditions leading to the powerful poetry of both writers, Fowlie perpetuates their legacy of protest and rebellion. As a teenager in the 60s, the music of the Doors slammed into my soul. Morrison's lyrics defined many of my generation as we deciphered and discussed them for countless hours. It has been well documented that Morrison wanted to be known as a poet rather than a singer/lyricist. He seemed to view poetry as the more intellectual pursuit. He is certainly correct in his belief that poetry can bear witness to the ills of society as well as the pain of an individual. Morrison is granted the credibility he craved in Fowlie's carefully researched and richly detailed analysis. The scholarly tone makes this book a welcome addition to the bookshelf of those who believe in the transformative power of poetry and music.

Not only do Jim and Arthur have unbelivable talent, but thier lives are practicaly parallel. Startng from the lack of a father as children these men have lived similar lives. A well written book, "Rebel as Poet" displays this fact very well.

Wallace Fowlie, emeritus of French and Italian Literature at Duke University and author of other great works, such as, Letters Between Henry Miller and Wallace Fowlie, accomplishes two major feats in Rimbaud and Jim Morrison: Rebel As Poet. Firstly, Fowlie brings to life and familiarizes Arthur Rimbaud to wide-eyed generations who would not neccesarily read Rimbaud in school textbooks. Second, with Fowlie holding one of the longest teching records in U.S. history, he takes and elevates Jim Morrison from the cheezy facade of rock star to the noble status of serious "poet" that could be respected in the world, not only of literature, but, also, the world of academia as well. Although you would never guess it, Wallace Fowlie was in his early eighties when writing this book. I believe it to be amazing that a man of Fowlie's caliber, history, and age would find Jim's poetry so compelling that he would work to bring Jim up to the class of poet Jim's idol, Rimbaud, belonged to and head. Maybe now students can feel free to write about James Douglas Morrison in literary classes - using Fowlie's book as a reference - without an English professor arguing that the work is not valid because Jim Morrison was a rock star not a poet.As you will discover while reading this book, a young rock star named Jim Morrison wrote to a Mr. Wallace Fowlie thanking him for his tranlations of Rimbaud's poetry and letters, and, I do believe, if James Douglas Morrison was alive today he would write to Wallace Fowlie once again to express his sincere thanks.

Wallace Fowlie has always managed to combine serious literary criticism with personal, anecdotal prose, and this book may well be the best example. As he says repeatedly, the people who came to his lectures because they were Doors fans or Jim Morrison fans walked away knowing more about Rimbaud and French poetry than they ever thought they would. Fowlie also includes stories of his own experience lecturing which provide an interesting insight into one of the best translators and critics still living today.