Wednesday 12 November 2014

Who he?

Who is Arthur Henry Ward, Jr.?

Fair question.

Rohmer really looks to distance himself from his poetry. The copyright page lists "Arthur Henry Ward Jr. [sic]" as the copyright holder. The back cover features this faux-biography:


Here the poet is having some fun. Save modest amounts applied to his own work, the man has never been much involved in editing; lecturing you'll find in every one of his novels. Still, it needs be acknowledged that Rohmer - a pilot, major-general, lawyer, businessman, biographer, novelist and television personality - has many talents. And while I'm not so sure that I consider him a keen perceptive, earthy observer, it cannot be denied that words and thoughts such as these have seared, provocatively imprinting the mind of this reader:
although the exterminational properties of the
fusion/fission weapons of today/tomorrow have
removed irretrievably the death/injury/quasi-monopoly
of the front line soldier and force-shared
that ancient male sex-related privilege/perogative [sic]
with both close and distant women
It's poetry worthy of The Affiliate, except that it was published by one of our major houses.

The scars will remain until the day I die.

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