Ezra Pound Politics Economics And Writing

Ezra Pound is known for his accomplishments in literature (specifically poetry), but little is known about his prowess in the realm of economics. Almost lost to history, but only to resurface, ABC of Economics & Social Credit: An Impact will allow readers to learn about Pound's views towards Finance, Commerce, and Usury; while presenting these complex subjects in a lucid and analogous manner.

Although many have tried to erase him from memory, Ezra Pound still stands with Mark Twain, Herman Melville, and Nathaniel Hawthorne as one of the great American writers, and most will still admit that he is America's greatest poet. He's famous for not only defining the modernist poetry movement with works such as Ripostes, Hugh Selwyn Mauberley, and The Cantos; but also for mentoring and promoting many of the twentieth century's most important writers including T.S. Elliot, Robert Frost, William Butler Yeats, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and D.H. Lawrence. On the other hand, Pound is also famous (or rather, infamous) for a series of pro-Fascist radio broadcasts made in Italy during World War II. After the war, Pound was arrested for treason and held for six months at a detention center outside Pisa. However, after he was flown back to America the US government shied away from trying Pound in court, instead choosing to lock him up in St. Elizabeth's Hospital for mental illness - even after he had been found fit to stand trial in Italy. According to literary scholar Hugh Kenner, the reason for Pound's being committed was to "prevent the ideas expressed in his broadcasts from being inspected" by the public at large. In short, they were likely worried that the public might hear something that they agree with. Contained in these pages are very likely some of the opinions and knowledge that they didn't want you to hear. Pound's distaste for the war and his admiration of Fascism largely stemmed from his exploration of the topic of economics. In particular Pound saw the Fascist model's ability to subordinate money to the interests of society as superior to the English and American models which allowed the power of bankers to run unfettered. In What is Money For?, Ezra Pound even touted Fascism as the only system whose "surgeon's knife" can cut the "cancer of usury out of the life of the nations." Although quotes like this were enough for many to label him a "genuine Fascist", Pound was not an idealogue. He was actually against promoting Italian-style Fascism in America. This is not to say that I "advocate" Fascism in and for America, or that I think that Fascism is possible in America without Mussolini. Pound believed that a country could take inspiration from the successes of other nations, but that there "may be several economic solutions to any problem," and that 1930s America was not suited for an Italian-style government.

Venice holds a unique place in literary and cultural history. Barnes looks at the themes of war, occupation, resistance and fascism to see how the political background has affected the literary works that have come out of this great city. He focuses on key British and American writers, including Byron, Ruskin, Pound and Eliot.

An international team of scholars provides an invaluable introduction to Pound's work and life.

By bringing Italian primary sources and new approaches to the cultural project of Mussolini’s regime to bear on Ezra Pound’s prose work, this book shows how Pound’s modernism changed as a result of involvement in Italian politics and culture.

Ezra Pound forever changed the course of poetry. The author of a vast body of literature, his enormous range of references and use of multiple languages make him one of the most obscure authors and—because of his Fascism, anti-Semitism, and questionable sanity—one of the most controversial. This encyclopedia is a concise yet comprehensive guide to his life and writings. Included are more than 250 alphabetically arranged entries on such topics as Arabic history, Chinese translation, dance, Hilda Doolittle, Egyptian literature, Robert Frost, and Pound's publications. The entries are written by roughly 100 expert contributors and cite works for further reading. Ezra Pound forever changed the course of poetry. His vast body of poetry and critical works make him one of the 20th century's most prolific writers, and his influence has shaped later poets, great and small. His enormous range of references, deliberate obscurity, and use of multiple languages make him one of the most difficult authors and— because of his Fascism, anti-Semitism, and questionable sanity—one of the most controversial figures in American literary history. This encyclopedia is a concise yet comprehensive guide to his life and writings.