Classical Poets Live: Torquato Tasso, ‘King of Poets’ The Society November 16, 2023 Classical Poets Live, Epic, Poetry, Readings 16 Comments Classical Poets Live with Andrew Benson Brown Episode 8: Torquato Tasso, “King of Poets” If you enjoy this video, please like and subscribe on YouTube to support the production. . . . Andrew Benson Brown has had poems and reviews published in a few journals. His epic-in-progress, Legends of Liberty, will chronicle the major events of the American Revolution if he lives to complete it. Though he writes history articles for American Essence magazine, he lists his primary occupation on official forms as ‘poet.’ He is, in other words, a vagabond. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Trending now: 16 Responses Cheryl Corey November 16, 2023 Yet another fascinating and educational presentation; and, as always, infused with your special touch of humor. By the way, you have a great voice for reciting poetry. Reply ABB November 18, 2023 Appreciate your repeat viewership, Cheryl. I haven’t recited much poetry thus far but am planning on doing this more. Going to be doing more episodes on such once-famous figures. Reply Geoffrey Smagacz November 16, 2023 Extremely informative. Thank you! Reply ABB November 18, 2023 Thanks for watching, Geoffrey. Reply Mia November 17, 2023 Great choice of subject matter. Well done Andrew. Incidentally my choice of King of Poets would be King David because of the Psalms. Not just king of poets but a king and a poet! May I also add that I believe there should be more historical knowledge about the crusades as people in the west are misinformed if not totally ignorant of that historical time and therefore prey to the fallacies that abound. Reply ABB November 18, 2023 The Crusades has probably suffered more from historical revisionism than any other era. I love Ridley Scott’s ‘Kingdom of Heaven,’ but it portrays the Christian believers as hypocrites—basically the anti-Gerusalemme liberata. Such is the age. And yes, you are certainly right about King David, Mia. Reply Sally Cook November 17, 2023 As always, you give us more than we ask and deserve. Reply ABB November 18, 2023 Now I know why I have so few subscribers! Thanks for being one of the supportive few, Sally. Reply James Sale November 18, 2023 Wonderful – intelligent, insightful, relevant – account of Tasso: loved your sidebar comments too. I have posted on my LinkedIn and FB accounts – this deserves much more dissemination. There are so many things I could comment on, but suffice for now to mention one: that marvellous bean-counting at the end where all the great works are not prose (in at No 9) but poetry; also, how epic is the pre-eminent form, and moreover, the inability to produce it, is indicative of a civilisation’s decline. There! I mentioned 3 things, not one – but then a trinity can be one, can’t it? Fabulous work, ABB. Love it. Reply ABB November 18, 2023 Thanks very much for re-sharing with your network, James. Expect me to continue these ‘epic thoughts’ when I do an episode on Ariosto! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant November 18, 2023 Andrew, I love this! I have found myself looking for the next ‘Classical Poets Live with Andrew Benson Brown’ for its educative, entertaining, humorous, and excellently produced content. Great stuff! Thank you very much indeed! Reply ABB November 19, 2023 Susan, it pleases me that you are excited about upcoming episodes. It’s a good source of motivation for me to keep this thing going. Reply Cynthia Erlandson November 18, 2023 I am so glad to have finally, now, heard of Tasso and his excellent work. Thank you, Andrew! Reply ABB November 19, 2023 Glad I could bring his name to your lips, Cynthia! Reply Monika Cooper November 21, 2023 I must, must, must read Tasso. I’m thinking both of the (verse!) translations on my shelf and then go back and read whichever one I like better again. Thank you, ABB. This was great fun. Reply ABB November 22, 2023 Be sure to let me know which translation you prefer. Other than Wickert’s I’ve only read Edward Fairfax’s Elizabethan one, which I also liked. Though I dipped into the prose one I mentioned in the video and hated it. So boring. Thanks for watching, Monica. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Cheryl Corey November 16, 2023 Yet another fascinating and educational presentation; and, as always, infused with your special touch of humor. By the way, you have a great voice for reciting poetry. Reply
ABB November 18, 2023 Appreciate your repeat viewership, Cheryl. I haven’t recited much poetry thus far but am planning on doing this more. Going to be doing more episodes on such once-famous figures. Reply
Mia November 17, 2023 Great choice of subject matter. Well done Andrew. Incidentally my choice of King of Poets would be King David because of the Psalms. Not just king of poets but a king and a poet! May I also add that I believe there should be more historical knowledge about the crusades as people in the west are misinformed if not totally ignorant of that historical time and therefore prey to the fallacies that abound. Reply
ABB November 18, 2023 The Crusades has probably suffered more from historical revisionism than any other era. I love Ridley Scott’s ‘Kingdom of Heaven,’ but it portrays the Christian believers as hypocrites—basically the anti-Gerusalemme liberata. Such is the age. And yes, you are certainly right about King David, Mia. Reply
ABB November 18, 2023 Now I know why I have so few subscribers! Thanks for being one of the supportive few, Sally. Reply
James Sale November 18, 2023 Wonderful – intelligent, insightful, relevant – account of Tasso: loved your sidebar comments too. I have posted on my LinkedIn and FB accounts – this deserves much more dissemination. There are so many things I could comment on, but suffice for now to mention one: that marvellous bean-counting at the end where all the great works are not prose (in at No 9) but poetry; also, how epic is the pre-eminent form, and moreover, the inability to produce it, is indicative of a civilisation’s decline. There! I mentioned 3 things, not one – but then a trinity can be one, can’t it? Fabulous work, ABB. Love it. Reply
ABB November 18, 2023 Thanks very much for re-sharing with your network, James. Expect me to continue these ‘epic thoughts’ when I do an episode on Ariosto! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant November 18, 2023 Andrew, I love this! I have found myself looking for the next ‘Classical Poets Live with Andrew Benson Brown’ for its educative, entertaining, humorous, and excellently produced content. Great stuff! Thank you very much indeed! Reply
ABB November 19, 2023 Susan, it pleases me that you are excited about upcoming episodes. It’s a good source of motivation for me to keep this thing going. Reply
Cynthia Erlandson November 18, 2023 I am so glad to have finally, now, heard of Tasso and his excellent work. Thank you, Andrew! Reply
Monika Cooper November 21, 2023 I must, must, must read Tasso. I’m thinking both of the (verse!) translations on my shelf and then go back and read whichever one I like better again. Thank you, ABB. This was great fun. Reply
ABB November 22, 2023 Be sure to let me know which translation you prefer. Other than Wickert’s I’ve only read Edward Fairfax’s Elizabethan one, which I also liked. Though I dipped into the prose one I mentioned in the video and hated it. So boring. Thanks for watching, Monica. Reply
