the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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E S Stevens : Ishtar

'I started to read a book called "Ishtar". It's not very good but I was very vague as to who Ishtar was - apparently the Babylonian goddess of love, war and fertility. Persepone, Artemis and Freya all in one. Normally Iwould not have bothered with it but a remark in Durrell's "Black Book" had set me wondering about Ishtar, vis - "From music we demand our whole life if it is to move us; every modulation of dream, despair, love, yearning. It is the past and the future going down into the tomb; the descent of Ishtar among the soiled roses; the entry into the chamber of the Cosmos; the first kicking in the womb and the last elegant spasm of cessation, lull, status". "Ishtar" by E.S. Stevens is badly written and rater trite, but quite interesting. I like stories about "digs" and I am rather interested in Baghdad though I know very little about that part of the world.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: anon      Print: Book

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