Arthur Symons, Days and Nights

James Dowthwaite (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena)

Ed. by Andrew Radford, University of Glasgow
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.08: English Writing and Culture of the early Twentieth Century , 1900-1945.
Vol. editors: Chris Baldick (Goldsmiths College, University of London), Peter Childs (Birmingham Newman University), Atasoy Emrah (University of Warwick), Louise McDonald (Birmingham Newman University), Andrew Radford (University of Glasgow)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1889

Places

United Kingdom (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Poem collection

Resources

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Though one of the leading critics and poets of the English

fin de siècle

, Arthur Symons is largely remembered, when he is remembered, as a critical mediator of French symbolism and decadence. It should not be forgotten, however, that he was a well-known poet at the time, even if he was, as Arnold B. Sklare remarked perhaps unfairly on his death, “

a la mode

simply a night and a day” (Sklare 316). His earliest poetry is far less derived from symbolist or decadent styles from France than it was engaged in a tradition of dramatic monologue and Pre-Raphaelite form, as well as literary impressionism.

Days and Nights established Symons’s early reputation, and it was a reputation that embedded itself within the aestheticist current of the period and the circle of its leading figure: the

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1595 words

Citation: Dowthwaite, James. "Days and Nights". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 06 October 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=41355, accessed 17 May 2024.]

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