D. J. Enright Criticism
D. J. Enright (1920–2002) was a versatile English poet, novelist, critic, and editor renowned for his liberal and humanistic perspective. His work is often marked by wit, irony, and a keen sensitivity to human suffering, observations he made during his extensive teaching career in countries such as Egypt, Japan, and Singapore. Enright's literary style aligns with The Movement, a mid-20th-century group characterized by a straightforward, anti-romantic approach to poetry. As the editor of the influential anthology Poets of the 1950s, he played a significant role in promoting this literary trend.
Enright's experiences abroad deeply informed his writing. His debut novel, Academic Year, explores the cultural conflicts faced by expatriates in Egypt. Themes of individual suffering and political hypocrisy recur in his poetry, notably in Some Men Are Brothers, while his autobiographical work, The Terrible Shears, reflects on his working-class upbringing and early awareness of human distress. In Paradise Illustrated and A Faust Book, Enright creatively reinterprets the Garden of Eden and Faust legends with a humorous edge.
A critical thinker, Enright's essays, such as those in The Apothecary's Shop and Conspirators and Poets, challenge conventional literary criticism, promoting a more pragmatic approach as seen in his analysis of Shakespeare in Shakespeare and the Students. Critics like Anthony Thwaite and John Pettigrew have commended his engaging, witty style that skillfully blends moral inquiry with intellectual exploration. His contributions across genres showcase a persistent scrutiny of societal norms and literary traditions, marking him as a significant figure in 20th-century English literature.
Contents
- Enright, D(ennis) J(oseph) (Vol. 8)
- Enright, D(ennis) J(oseph) (Vol. 4)
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Enright, D(ennis) J(oseph) (Vol. 31)
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Literary Games
(summary)
In the following essay, Anthony Thwaite argues that D. J. Enright's "The Apothecary's Shop" combines moralistic yet non-dogmatic perspectives with a blend of common sense and intellectual breadth, critiquing literary criticism while emphasizing works that engage with substantive themes.
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The Apothecary's Shop
(summary)
In the following essay, John Pettigrew commends D. J. Enright's "The Apothecary's Shop" for its lively and commonsense approach to literary criticism, praising Enright's forthrightness, wit, and willingness to challenge prevailing critical views, particularly in essays on Shakespeare, Woolf, and modern criticism.
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Peering and Seeing
(summary)
In the following essay, MacCaig observes that D. J. Enright's poetry in "Some Men are Brothers" is marked by a mature and nuanced sensibility, blending sympathetic irony with understanding compassion to explore themes of exile, complexity, and interconnectedness in the real world.
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Some Men Are Brothers
(summary)
In the following essay, P. N. Furbank critiques D. J. Enright's poetic approach in Some Men Are Brothers as lacking tension and formal interest, yet ultimately appreciates the impactful and moving humanistic themes conveyed in the successful poem "Written Off."
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Style-Spotting
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In the following essay, Robert Taubman examines D. J. Enright's Figures of Speech, highlighting its portrayal of cultural exchanges and the East-West dichotomy, while critiquing its effectiveness in conveying the authenticity of its characters to Western audiences.
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Strictly for Entertainment
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In the following essay, Peter Vansittart discusses D. J. Enright's Figures of Speech, highlighting its comedic exploration of intellectual life and cultural interactions in Asia, while noting Enright's ability to gently satirize cultural misunderstandings and moral posturing.
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Pastels and Primaries
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In the following essay, Francis Hope critiques D. J. Enright's collection The Old Adam for its subtle, detached observations that often lack a stronger poetic impact, despite Enright's adeptness with wit and humor.
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Enright's Articles
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In the following essay, Dan Jacobson examines D. J. Enright's collection Conspirators and Poets, arguing that despite Enright's apologetic tone towards his own literary journalism, the work effectively critiques and transcends traditional academic criticism with its wit, precision, and thoughtful engagement with 20th-century literature.
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Too Nice for a Statesman?
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In the following essay, Malcolm Bradbury argues that D. J. Enright's work, particularly in "Conspirators and Poets," reveals a genial and eclectic approach to literary criticism, celebrating cultural engagement and continuity, while also maintaining a critical perspective on literary trends and the cultural environment.
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D. J. Enright Under the Cherry Tree
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In the following essay, Philip Gardner examines D. J. Enright's critique of Japan through his poetry, highlighting Enright's humanistic approach that emphasizes the realities of individual lives over cultural stereotypes and critiques the disconnect between Japanese art and everyday life.
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Repetitions
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In the following essay, Alan Brownjohn critiques D. J. Enright's work, particularly Unlawful Assembly, for its recurring themes of art's ineffectiveness against political and economic forces, noting the poet's consistent yet increasingly automatic irony and compassionate perception, despite a lack of new insights or energy.
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Old Scores
(summary)
In the following essay, Gavin Ewart praises D. J. Enright's collection Unlawful Assembly for its pleasing conversational tone, effective use of commonsense and humor, and its controlled yet sometimes discursive style, while arguing that critics dismissing Enright may be influenced by more pretentious literary standards.
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Whose Shakespeare?
(summary)
In the following essay, Martin Seymour-Smith praises D. J. Enright's Shakespeare and the Students for its non-theoretical, human-centered approach to Shakespeare that draws from life and poetry, highlighting its eclectic insights and the stimulating nature of its commentary.
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Change Direction
(summary)
In the following essay, Alan Brownjohn argues that D. J. Enright's Daughters of Earth marks a significant improvement in his work, showcasing more varied and incisive themes like cultural dissonance and political critique, suggesting a revitalized creative direction upon his return to England.
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Knockabouts
(summary)
In the following essay, P. N. Furbank argues that D. J. Enright's poetry, characterized by a relaxed style and moral confrontation, achieves a unique and authentic form of beauty through its consistent moral precision and humanist perspective, despite its seemingly casual language and structure.
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Shakespeare and the Students
(summary)
In the following essay, Myra Hinman critiques D. J. Enright's Shakespeare and the Students for its lack of clarity regarding its intended audience, its insular reliance on British critics, and its overemphasis on character analysis to the neglect of deeper dramatic and symbolic elements, ultimately deeming it less effective compared to other available guides.
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William Walsh
(summary)
In the following essay, William Walsh argues that D. J. Enright's novels, spanning settings from Alexandria to Japan, are distinguished by their intelligent blend of wit, humanism, and a deep understanding of expatriate life, characterized by a unique mixture of humor and empathy that captures the complexities of human nature and society.
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An Apple in a Pub
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In the following essay, Nicholas Mosley interprets D. J. Enright's Paradise Illustrated as a collection of witty, succinct poems that humorously depict Adam and Eve, post-Fall, using clever wordplay and mockery to navigate their newfound worldly knowledge, reflecting a theology of resilience through humor.
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Heads, Tongues & Spirits
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In the following essay, Alan Brownjohn critiques D. J. Enright's "Paradise Illustrated" for its uneven blend of humor and seriousness, noting some successful jokes while others falter, but ultimately praises Enright's "Other Poems" for their incisive satire and critique of authoritarianism and modern biographers.
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A Faust for Our Time
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In the following essay, Philip Toynbee argues that D. J. Enright's 'A Faust Book' is a satirical work employing anachronisms and literary allusions to critique modern society, and while some humor may fall flat, the poem ultimately underscores traditional morality and the virtue of hope.
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An Unprovincial Province
(summary)
In the following essay, Alan Brownjohn argues that D. J. Enright's A Faust Book offers a subtler and more engaging reinterpretation of the Faust legend, using it to explore themes of modern academic and political satire, while showcasing a return to the scope and range of Enright's earlier acclaimed work.
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Scrupulous Wit
(summary)
In the following essay, Derwent May explores D. J. Enright’s poetry, highlighting his unique ability to convey personal presence through impersonal observations, his wit fused with meticulous scrutiny, and his insightful reflections on humanity, suffering, and cultural diversity, all while maintaining a disarming and humorous tone.
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Very Much Alive and Kicking
(summary)
In the following essay, Gavin Ewart commends D. J. Enright's Collected Poems for its autobiographical depth, wit, and evocative imagery, highlighting "The Terrible Shears" as a significant achievement, while also noting occasional flaws in form and judgment but ultimately affirming the enduring vitality of Enright's talent.
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Limited Company
(summary)
In the following essay, Andrew Motion examines the evolution of D. J. Enright's poetic style, noting how his initial vibrant engagement with foreign settings and social conscience gradually constrained him into a more typical Movement writer's flat, ironic style, ultimately leading to a chatty, anecdotal approach in later works.
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Patrick Swinden
(summary)
In the following essay, Patrick Swinden argues that D. J. Enright's Collected Poems explores themes of powerlessness, the role of gods and poets, and the relativity of suffering through vivid imagery, literary references, and religious myths, highlighting the importance of moral perception in understanding human experiences.
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Mister Enlight
(summary)
In the following essay, John Gross commends D. J. Enright's compilation 'A Mania for Sentences' for its cohesive and engaging collection of book reviews, highlighting Enright's wit, practical criticism, and cultural sensitivity, while also noting his adept handling of language and the interplay of fantasy and reality in his work.
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Literary Games
(summary)
Criticism by D. J. Enright
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Warts and All
Patrick White Criticism
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Junkets
Anthony Burgess Criticism
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Lost Empire
Anthony Burgess Criticism
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Gloomy Clouds & Laughing Sun: Naguib Mahfouz, Nobel Laureate
Naguib Mahfouz Criticism
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Books in General: 'Le Marquis de Sade'
Simone de Beauvoir Criticism
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Love Bytes
John Updike Criticism
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D. J. Enright
Heinrich Böll Criticism
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When They Were Wrong They Were Right
Heinrich Böll Criticism
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Forked Tongue
Salman Rushdie Criticism
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Special Subjects
Peter Handke Criticism
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Did Nobody Teach You?
Stevie Smith Criticism
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Stuck in the Slot
John McGahern Criticism
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Stuck in the Slot
John McGahern Criticism
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Ping-pong
Milan Kundera Criticism
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Graces and Disgraces
Yukio Mishima Criticism
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Germanic Tales
Max Frisch Criticism
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The German Ocean
W. G. Sebald Criticism
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Larger than Life
Mordecai Richler Criticism
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Fortunate Foetus
Thomas Keneally Criticism
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Fouling Up the System
Thomas Keneally Criticism
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Pure As a Peach
Adam Zagajewski Criticism
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Speak Up!
George Steiner Criticism
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Between Holderlin and Himmler
Hans Magnus Enzensberger Criticism
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Unpolitical but Not Innocuous
Jaroslav Seifert Criticism
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The Landscape of the Heart
Elizabeth Spencer Criticism
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A Bruised Loyalty
Christa Wolf Criticism
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Selected Poems
Georg Trakl Criticism
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Calling Dr. Angst
Martin Walser Criticism
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Special Subjects
Martin Walser Criticism
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Capturing the China Trade
Timothy Mo Criticism
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Cats and Dogs
Carolyn Kizer Criticism
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Modern Love
Bernhard Schlink Criticism
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Czech Mates
Ivan Klíma Criticism
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Speaking in Tongues
Tim Parks Criticism