Ezra Pound, Father and Teacher: Discretions

by Mary de Rachewiltz, Richard Sieburth (Introduction)

Mary de Rachewiltz’s autobiographical account, Ezra Pound, Father and Teacher, which first appeared as a New Directions Paperbook in 1975, is now reissued with a new afterword by the author. Set against the background of Fascist Italy and the Tyrolean Alps where she spent the early years of her childhood, the story Ezra Pound’s daughter movingly reveals is a side of the poet which is seldom touched upon, that of devoted father, and at the same time serves to illuminate many of the more difficult, personal passages of The Cantos. But the book is more than a mere memoir, for Mary de Rachewiltz is an accomplished poet and translator in her own right, guided in her craft under her father’s tutelage: through her stylized, often oblique prose technique we are enabled to appreciate more deeply Pound’s inner anguish during the war years and the strains put upon him by the circumstances of his life. Many of the scenes described are illustrated with photographs. while the narrative itself gleams with lines from The Cantos that light up the events of the author’s life as her life lights up the poetry.

338 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[nogaboga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though still not a fan of autobiographies, this one worked for me. It gives the reader a real taste of life in Europe in-between world wars, which is a time and a place that used to appear often in my readings, and hasn't for quite some time now. For this reason, there was something nostalgic about reading it that kept me interested.
De Rachewiltz integrates lines from Ezra Pound's Cantos throughout the book, usually lines that refer directly to an event or an experience as she is describing that experience to the reader. If anything, it's now clear to me that one should never attempt to read the Cantos without a very, very detailed annotations book. The references are so specific and subjective, that without a full descriptions of the relevant events, one just cannot understand Pound's Cantos.

[Mark Folse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling memoir not just of growing up as Ezra Pound's daughter, but of growing up in the Tyrol and war-time Italy. One need not be a scholar or fan of Ezra Pound to be spellbound by the author's life. Mary de Rachewilz: poet, translator, brilliant auto-didact, person of charm and great strenth, stands on her own like the castle she inhabits. If one is such a fan or scholar, it is an indispensable part of the library.

[Allison Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to write memoir, read this book!
You don't have to be an expert on Pound, but do some background research. Important things to know: Babbo is Pound; Mamile is Olga Rudge. Ok, glad we're clear.

[Mills College Library]

811.52 R119d 1975