W.H. Auden - September 1, 1939
Event Details
“I sit in one of the dives
On Fifty-second Street
Uncertain and afraid”
Written in early September 1939 in New York, where Auden had moved only a few months before, September 1, 1939 refers to a pivotal moment in history, the German invasion of Poland and the outbreak of the Second World War. Aware of the significance of the event and questioning what it means for the future, Auden considers the lessons we may find in history, our understanding of human behaviour and ultimately, love.
Although Auden came to dislike the “high-flown rhetoric” of the poem, it has resonated with successive generations of readers as they grapple with world events in their own time. Through reading aloud and group discussion, we will consider the meaning of this poem and what lessons it may have for us today.
SALON DETAILS
- Facilitated by Caroline Hammond
- Single meeting study
- Wednesday 22 June 2022, 6-8.00 pm (BST)
- £25 includes background materials and opening notes
