Allen Tate: A Recollection

by Walter Sullivan

The author looks back on his thirty-year friendship with Allen Tate and shares his observations on the poet's complex personality

117 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1988

Reviews

[Khush · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book on Allen Tate's life has disappointed me. The author too often writes about people other than Allen; since it is a very small book, such sidetracks are annoying. I found a few descriptions of his wife Caroline interesting. It would have been fascinating, had the author written a bit more about their relationship. His youngest wife Hanne comes across as even more intriguing. Reading these recollections on Allen, I could not help wondering how Hanne, his youngest wife, would have written about him. Allen on his part never thought twice before hurting his women. Adultery, for instance, does not feature too high in his world.

What I found most endearing about Allen in the book are: his agility and lifestyle, his attitude towards life, his being a poet in the world that always sends out bills which the bankrupt poet could not pay. His constant maneuvering and manipulating of his contacts– friends, editors, publishers– for cash prizes including the noble prize for literature.

This book is a 'quicky'– or at least gives this impression.

It is perfectly understandable that a poet like him asks for money– whenever, wherever, whatever possible. Poems cannot buy butter, in Allen's case, nor alcohol.