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标题：Eugenio Montale, Gianfranco Contini. Eusebio e Trabucco: Carteggio di Eugenio Montale e Gianfranco Contini.
作者：Singh, G.
期刊名称：World Literature Today
印刷版ISSN：0196-3570
出版年度：1999
期号：March
语种：English
出版社：University of Oklahoma
摘要：How can the correspondence between Eugenio Montale, to all intents and purposes Italy's greatest modern poet, and Gianfranco Contini, an eminent and influential Italian philologist and critic, whatever its value as a literary and historical document, turn out to be so dull? The letters are certainly not comparable in pith, vivacity, and human interest to those of Montale's literary compeers D. H. Lawrence and Joyce, Pound and Eliot. One possible explanation could well be that, although Contini held seniority in age, what was even more important was the fact that Montale, as the author of Ossi di seppia, had already earned the reputation of being, together with Ungaretti, the modern poet who mattered, yet, like T. S. Eliot, suffered from an undue regard for the academic and philological authority represented by his correspondent. Another reason could be the fairly understandable desire on the part of a young poet to be recognized, especially in academic circles. But apart from literary chitchat of a rather casual kind and items of contemporary literary history or gossip, with some mildly critical comments on contemporary writers thrown in here and there, the Carteggio offers little of interest to one who is not a Montale specialist. And even for a Montale specialist, much of what the volume contains is like water under the bridge. There are, on Montale's part, few autobiographical revelations, few illuminating comments on the art and craft of poetry in general, and on his own poetry in particular.
关键词：Book reviews;Books

Eugenio Montale, Gianfranco Contini. Eusebio e Trabucco: Carteggio di Eugenio Montale e Gianfranco Contini.

Singh, G.

Eugenio Montale, Gianfranco Contini. Eusebio e Trabucco: Carteggio di Eugenio Montale e Gianfranco Contini. Dante Isella, ed. Milan. Adelphi. 1997 (released 1998). L.48,000. xvii + 328 pages. ISBN 88-459-1342-2.

How can the correspondence between Eugenio Montale, to all intents and purposes Italy's greatest modern poet, and Gianfranco Contini, an eminent and influential Italian philologist and critic, whatever its value as a literary and historical document, turn out to be so dull? The letters are certainly not comparable in pith, vivacity, and human interest to those of Montale's literary compeers D. H. Lawrence and Joyce, Pound and Eliot. One possible explanation could well be that, although Contini held seniority in age, what was even more important was the fact that Montale, as the author of Ossi di seppia, had already earned the reputation of being, together with Ungaretti, the modern poet who mattered, yet, like T. S. Eliot, suffered from an undue regard for the academic and philological authority represented by his correspondent. Another reason could be the fairly understandable desire on the part of a young poet to be recognized, especially in academic circles. But apart from literary chitchat of a rather casual kind and items of contemporary literary history or gossip, with some mildly critical comments on contemporary writers thrown in here and there, the Carteggio offers little of interest to one who is not a Montale specialist. And even for a Montale specialist, much of what the volume contains is like water under the bridge. There are, on Montale's part, few autobiographical revelations, few illuminating comments on the art and craft of poetry in general, and on his own poetry in particular.

Moreover, the desire on Montale's part "[di non] dar dispiaceri ad altri" obviously blunts the edge of whatever comments he has to make. (In this respect Montale is the very antithesis of Pound.) Take, for instance, what he has to say to Contini apropos of Ungaretti: "Non mi spiace che Ella sia sensibile a certe mie impurita: quelli che mi hanno considerato come un poeta sotto vetro, ultra puro, mi hanno reso certi servizi! Mi sono visto persino catalogato fra gli ungarettiani! (Non e male essere Ungaretti: ma la scuola Dio mio!") This kind of mild banter, understatement, and innuendo is characteristic both of Montale's style and his personality. Equally characteristic of Contini, both as a philologist and as a critic, is his comment on Ungaretti: "Ma resta vero quello che mi diceva una volta Cecchi: Quello che e terribile, in Ungaretti, e la sua mancanza di filologia. Ungaretti non ha filologia. Il che non mi pare vada inteso in un senso deteriore: la non-filologia d'Ungaretti e la sua forza, e un po' la sua debolezza."

Such critically pregnant comments, however, are few and far between in the 300-odd pages of Eusebio e Trabucco, and they are easily lost sight of amid all the friendly affability and the many velleities of a mutually admiring sort. Dante Isella's notes and the volume's entire editorial preparation represent impeccable scholarship on the part of one who is himself an eminent philologist and critic. On page 244, Contini refers to the undersigned as follows: "Scusa la noia, ma sono posseduto da quel furor esegetico che un invito di Singh, da accogliere a tambur battente o niente, non ha purtroppo incontrato." I wish Isella had given some inkling as to the date and context of my supposed missive to Contini; for, as far as I can remember, I never wrote any letter to Contini any more than I wrote a letter to the pope!

G. Singh

Queen's University of Belfast