What W. H. Auden Can Do for You
Alexander McCall Smith
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Narrated by:
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William Neenan
About this listen
When facing a moral dilemma, Isabel Dalhousie--Edinburgh philosopher, amateur detective, and title character of a series of novels by best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith - often refers to the great twentieth-century poet W. H. Auden. This is no accident: McCall Smith has long been fascinated by Auden. Indeed, the novelist, best known for his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, calls the poet not only the greatest literary discovery of his life but also the best of guides on how to live.
In this book, McCall Smith has written a charming personal account about what Auden has done for him--and what he just might do for you.Part self-portrait, part literary appreciation, the book tells how McCall Smith first came across the poet's work in the 1970s, while teaching law in Belfast, a violently divided city where Auden's "September 1, 1939," a poem about the outbreak of World War II, strongly resonated.
McCall Smith goes on to reveal how his life has related to and been inspired by other Auden poems ever since. For example, he describes how he has found an invaluable reflection on life's transience in "As I Walked Out One Evening," while "The More Loving One" has provided an instructive meditation on unrequited love.
McCall Smith shows how Auden can speak to us throughout life, suggesting how, despite difficulties and change, we can celebrate understanding, acceptance, and love for others.
An enchanting story about how art can help us live, this book will appeal to McCall Smith's fans and anyone curious about Auden.
©2013 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2013 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about What W. H. Auden Can Do for You
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- critical friend
- 07-11-21
Personal homage to revered author
This is a highly personal tribute and explanation of how Auden influenced another whom I admire. There are some extended quotations from Auden's works and these are read by the author with understanding and passion. I learned something new about Auden's life and work, as well as insights into McCall Smith's career. My disappointment was that the learning and influence is not a generalisable as McCall Smith experienced or anticipates his readers will benefit. I listened at increased speed as the initial section seemed a bit ponderous to me. Did not take up too much time, but learned nothing I could use or was totally new to me about writing.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Helen
- 04-12-22
Dreary listening
I expected so much more from this. It did not meet its title!
It lacks the sparkle of McCall Smith's general work, and needs more of Auden's work to put the quoted lines in context. The lifeless narration did not help.
But I enjoyed seeking out the poetry to read more.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Valerie
- 28-10-21
moving and very inspiring
Excellent. Entertaining and inspiring.
Lovely to be able to find out how she not only coped, but excelled and carried on and expanded the good work started by Anthony
The narrator was a little bit distracting.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- K. A. Mosedale
- 22-08-24
Short but interesting
I didn't know that much about WH Auden and the fact this was a short listen encouraged me to dive in. Lots to think about as a result and some insightful comments about poems that I now plan to read.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- J. Drew
- 07-10-24
Interesting look at Auden
- This short book looks on the life and work of WH Auden and is the writers own personal journey of what W H Auden has given to him and others. The book covers a short summary of Auden’s life and the lessons that he has learned from the words of Auden’s poetry and how lines have come to him in various moments – like the fragment of a song. It has also helped the author to live a better life, and has been a great comfort to him in his life. And he shares his passion, some of Auden’s greatest poems and to reflect on how these words lead a better life, and the things that we can learn from the poetry about ourselves and those around us..
- Auden is probably my second favourite poet, one of my leading favourite poets of the 20th century, and I can even memorise one of his poems of my heart. One of the most interesting things in this book is the fact that the Auden was a homosexual, and this was deemed illegal at the time, Lesbianism wasn't apparently as Queen Victoria refused to accept that it existed and wouldn't pass the law to make it illegal. Anyway, the book contains several of some of Auden's most famous poems as well as a good summary of his life, the time he lived in, and what the poetry means to the author. He's obviously a big, big fan.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Louise
- 25-02-22
Not this narrator!
I am grateful that this program was under three hours and also that I bought it in the sale. I love McCall Smith’ work and was hoping to hear someone read with a similar exuberance and eloquence as the man himself. Instead we got a very wooden, sleep-inducing drone. Would not have got to the end had it been normal length. Will be making sure I keep this narrator’s name so I never get another book read by him. But Alexander’s words in Auden were wonderful- just read the book instead
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- EmmaM
- 25-02-23
Loved the content
This is an excellent little book and serves as a super overview of Auden’s oeuvre, and AMcC-S’s response. But why the affected, Brideshead Revisitedesque narration, which detracted from what would have been a jewel of an audiobook? Such a shame, but still worth listening to.
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