Born on this day December 6, 1893, Sylvia Townsend Warner, a prominent figure in the literary world, commanded a unique voice that was both profound and provocative. Her works cut across various themes, styles, and genres, making her one of the most versatile writers of her time. Warner’s literary masterpieces exhibited a keen understanding of the human condition and a deep insight into the societal norms of her era. Yet, they transcend the temporal bounds, possessing an enduring appeal that continues to captivate contemporary audiences.
Warner’s prolific writing career spanned several decades, during which she penned novels, poems, and short stories that are lauded for their depth and complexity. These works often explored unconventional themes and presented nuanced perspectives on human relationships, morality, and societal constructs. Her narrative style was distinctively rich and evocative, characterized by vivid imagery, poetic language, and a keen sense of irony.
Despite the critical acclaim that Sylvia Townsend Warner received during her lifetime, her works fell into relative obscurity in the years following her death. However, a resurgence of interest in her literature is evident in recent years. Modern scholars and readers alike are rediscovering her literary masterpieces, drawn by the timeless charm inherent in her writings.
In particular, Warner’s novels such as Lolly Willowes and Mr. Fortune’s Maggot are being given a fresh appreciation for their progressive themes and innovative narrative techniques. Her poetry collections are likewise being revisited for their rhythmic beauty and emotive power. In all these works, Warner’s astute observations of human nature and society ring as true today as they did when they were first written.
The timeless charms of Sylvia Townsend Warner lie not just in the enduring relevance of her themes or the beauty of her prose, but in her bold exploration of uncharted territories in literature. As we rediscover her literary masterpieces, we gain a renewed appreciation for her innovative spirit and her unique contribution to literature.
Azrael
Who chooses the music, turns the page,
Waters the geraniums on the window-ledge?
Who proxies my hand,
Puts on the mourning-ring in lieu of the diamond?
Who winds the trudging clock, who tears
Flimsy the empty date of calendars?
Who widow-hoods my senses
Lest they should meet the morning’s cheat defenseless?
Who valets me at nightfall, undresses me of another day,
Puts tidily and finally away?
And lets in darkness
To befriend my eyelids like an illusory caress?
I called him Sorrow when first he came,
But Sorrow is too narrow a name;
And though he has attended me all this long while
Habit will not do. Habit is servile.
He, inaudible, governs my days, impalpable,
Impels my hither and thither. I am his to command,
My times are in his hand.
Once in a dream I called him Azrael.
-Sylvia Townsend Warner
Curated by Jennifer
