A Shakespearean authority explores the role of imagination and creative force, likening them to an atomic chain reaction. With a memoir by Margaret Goddard Holt.

This is a most unusual essay, by a professor of life, imagination and wisdom (he taught literature at Swarthmore College), about how it is in staying true to our souls, to our creativity and the images that inspire us, that we will together overcome war and tyranny. This is not a usual Quaker essay on peace, however insightful; it has a different inspiration, vision, charm, and profundity. It is about resisting the world's demand to bend our imagination to its ways of power, and living by our own images that give us life and love. As enough of us do this, we will overcome war, as "the great unconscious collaboration we call spring" overcomes the tyranny of winter.
Goddard's writing is poetic and he quotes many poems. Poetry lovers will rate it 5 stars, I think, while those who prefer straight expository prose might give it less. but will learn something profound from it. It is worth reading more than once. ( )

PHP #57