Patricia
06-08-2008, 08:11 PM
Remy de Gourmont (1858-1915)
The Natural Philosophy of Love (Tr. Ezra Pound, 1922).
(This has also appeared as 'the Natural History of Love'.)
(Physique de l’amour: essai sur l’instinct sexuel)
Translated by Ezra Pound (1885-1972).
A detailed survey of sexual activity in nature--including birds, bees, rabbits (very fierce lovers, apparently) and people. De Gourmont argues that sexual activity is natural, ubiquitous and varied; hence the only sexual perversion is abstinence.
Given that de Gourmont had reclusive tendencies, this would make him a pervert. Ezra Pound, on the other hand, was the opposite.
The author and the translator were both notable poets.
However, you may find some of the descriptions unduly anthropomorphised and a bit prurient. They have very strange views about some things. Pound’s spelling is idiosyncratic.
The Natural Philosophy of Love (Tr. Ezra Pound, 1922).
(This has also appeared as 'the Natural History of Love'.)
(Physique de l’amour: essai sur l’instinct sexuel)
Translated by Ezra Pound (1885-1972).
A detailed survey of sexual activity in nature--including birds, bees, rabbits (very fierce lovers, apparently) and people. De Gourmont argues that sexual activity is natural, ubiquitous and varied; hence the only sexual perversion is abstinence.
Given that de Gourmont had reclusive tendencies, this would make him a pervert. Ezra Pound, on the other hand, was the opposite.
The author and the translator were both notable poets.
However, you may find some of the descriptions unduly anthropomorphised and a bit prurient. They have very strange views about some things. Pound’s spelling is idiosyncratic.