
What W. H. Auden Can Do for You
Alexander McCall Smith
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Narrated by:
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William Neenan
When facing a moral dilemma, Isabel Dalhousie--Edinburgh philosopher, amateur detective, and title character of a series of novels by best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith - often refers to the great twentieth-century poet W. H. Auden. This is no accident: McCall Smith has long been fascinated by Auden. Indeed, the novelist, best known for his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, calls the poet not only the greatest literary discovery of his life but also the best of guides on how to live.
In this book, McCall Smith has written a charming personal account about what Auden has done for him--and what he just might do for you.Part self-portrait, part literary appreciation, the book tells how McCall Smith first came across the poet's work in the 1970s, while teaching law in Belfast, a violently divided city where Auden's "September 1, 1939," a poem about the outbreak of World War II, strongly resonated.
McCall Smith goes on to reveal how his life has related to and been inspired by other Auden poems ever since. For example, he describes how he has found an invaluable reflection on life's transience in "As I Walked Out One Evening," while "The More Loving One" has provided an instructive meditation on unrequited love.
McCall Smith shows how Auden can speak to us throughout life, suggesting how, despite difficulties and change, we can celebrate understanding, acceptance, and love for others.
An enchanting story about how art can help us live, this book will appeal to McCall Smith's fans and anyone curious about Auden.
©2013 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2013 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...




















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A Great Introduction to W, H. Auden the Writer
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Excellent presentation of insightful commentary on Auden
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Alexander McCall Smith, famous as an author of mystery novels, acknowledges that W.H. Auden (1907-1973) is probably best known to the present generation for "Funeral Blues," the poem recited in the popular film "Four Weddings and a Funeral."
But McCall Smith wants us to come to know Auden as a spiritual poet, who at the outbreak of World War II wrote these lines for a refugee friend:
We fall down in the dance, we make
The old ridiculous mistake,
But always there are such as you
Forgiving, helping what we do.
If McCall Smith's love for Auden resonates with today's readers, the next step is to explore Auden's poems and find their own meanings in the timeless verses.
On the Power of Poetry, Mostly Auden's
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A great introduction to Auden, so despite its brevity, I recommend it!
Wanting more!
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For those not familiar with Auden’s poetry and the turbulent times he lived through this is a great introduction.
McCall Smith is not practicing hagiography with this book but shows the reader an authentic Auden who through his poetry struggled to find meaning in a meaningless world.
Finally, McCall Smith shows us that by reading Auden’s poems we too, can find meaning and have the occasional moment where we can make sense of life.
The narrator did and excellent job.
Auden for all!
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Smith tells about how he discovered Auden’s poetry when he was working at Queen’s University in Belfast. After he returned to Edinburgh, he went to a public reading by Auden in George Square. Smith goes on to tell about Auden and his poetry. Smith states that when he started writing novels he found himself quoting Auden, particularly in the Isabel Dalhousie, Sunday Philosophy Club series. Smith says Auden had an ear for the rhythmic possibilities of English and that there is an intense humanity about Auden’s poetry.
The book is well written and a pleasure to read. The book also provides me with a bit of insight into Alexander McCall Smith, the man and author. I was aware of the reference to Auden in AMS’s books, but this book has triggered me to look for Auden’s poems.
The book is very short at just about three hours. William Neenan does a good job narrating the book. Neenan is an actor and audiobook narrator.
Exceptional
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An enlightened introduction to Age of Anxiety.
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Answered all my questions about McCall Smith
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Reflections on W H Auden
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Bought the book!
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