Ignorant Essays

A collection of conversational, often satirical essays that consider literary tastes, criticism, and common misconceptions. The writer ranges across topics — ghosts and dreams, the merits of particular poets, allegory and fable, grammar and prosody, and the idea of the poetic sublime — using anecdote, personal recollection, and close reading to debunk sentimental moralities and lampoon pretensions. Several pieces combine cultural commentary with pointed judgments about canonical texts and popular moralists, while others offer reflective, sometimes ironic meditations on imagination, language, and the limits of critical authority.