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Draft of a leaflet advertising the Virgil Society
- Johns Hopkins University Press
- document
- Additional Information
On 1 Jan 1943 TSE wrote to George Orwell that he was annoyed with himself “at having accepted another invitation, from somebody starting a society for boosting Virgil.” The invitation came from the Rev. Bruno Scott James (1906-84), founder of the Virgil Society, who called a mid-Jan organizational meeting that included TSE; historian Douglas Woodruff (1897-1978), editor of
It is not unusual for announcements of the foundation of a new society to begin with the words “why another society?” and then proceed to answer their own question. But this announcement is addressed to those, whoever they may be, and whatever their other vocations and beliefs, who love the poetry of Virgil; and we do not believe that lovers of Virgil need any persuasion to join a society designed to foster the devotion to that poet. The common bond already exists, though the persons united by it are largely unknown to each other.
The Virgil Society is initiated under the auspices of the Classical Association;
To the rest of the world, this will be merely another society like many already in existence, which bring together the admirers of some one poet, ancient or modern. But to the true Virgilian – to whom these words are addressed – however much he loves other poetry, and even if he concedes a higher place, in one respect or another, to some other poet – the foundation of a Virgil Society will have a special significance. For the Virgilian, Virgil is not only one of the world’s greatest poets, but a symbol. His peculiar genius, and the circumstances of his time, place and language, make him the representative European poet as no other is. He also belongs to every European literature in its own tradition; he also belongs to each one of us with the particularity of a person and an event in our own private life. What he symbolises...