Within reading “Esther Kahn” by Arthur Symons, we took it upon ourselves to develop a better understanding of the author and his works. Arthur Symons, a British critic, poet, and magazine editor, believed in the power of detail. He once stated, “What we ask of him is, that he should find out for us more than we can find out for ourselves…. He must have the passion of a lover” (PoetHunter.com). As a result, people should seek out to pay attention to the little things in life. Performing this homework has given us great insight into how Symons thought and gave us some reasoning as to why he wrote his writings in the way that he did.
Born and raised in Milford Haven, Wales, Symons grew up in a fairly educated family. At a young age, he soon began to edit many works and contribute to the world of literature. For instance, “In 1884–1886 he edited four of Bernard Quaritch’s Shakespeare’s Quarto Facsimiles”(PoetHunter.com). Not to mention, “he became a member of the staff of the Athenaeum in 1891, and of the Saturday Review in 1894, but his major editorial feat was his work with the short-lived Savoy”(PoetHunter.com). As a result, Symons’ drive and passionate towards literature has been forever made staple in history today.
Symons is a well-known symbolist in England and has interpreted “French decadent poetry to the English through translations, criticism, and his own imitative poems” (Encyclopedia). He helped move the 19th century art into the 20th century, and some of the modern day humanities that are seen today. This artist concerned himself mostly with the “aesthetic, formal qualities of a work of art in addition [to] its ability to lead one to some kind of spirituality” (Porterfield). Symons critiqued many forms of art and humanities and this is what helped him shape the Symbolist artist that he is known for today. He sought to bring out the best in everything that he saw and it was through this symbolist artwork that he was able to achieve this.
Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. Arthur Symons. Columbia University Press. 6th Edition. 26 Oct. 2012.
Porterfield, Susan A. Arthur Symons as Critic of the Visual Arts. English Literature in Transition, 1880-1920. 26 Oct. 2012.
“Arthur Symons.” PoemHunter.com. N.p., 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2012.
