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From Everyman...

"Here is the Discussion Schedule (rather than reading schedule, since we're hoping people will actually discuss, not just read, the poem, and as with all poems multiple reading of passages is often required for greatest understanding and appreciation.)

Many (most?) editions use Roman numbering, so I've added that; I think my translations are correct, but if not, please advise!

Readings aren't all of equal length, but are intended to follow as much as possible the internal structure of the poem. The middle readings are longer, so plan ahead.

April 9-15 - Prologue through Section 14 (XIV)
April 16-22 - Sections 15-27 (XV-XXVII)
April 23-29 - Sections 28-52 (XXVIII-LII)
April 30-May 6 - Sections 53-77 (LIII-LXXVII)
May 7-13 - Sections 78-94 (LXXVIII-XCIV)
May 14-20 - Sections 95-103 (XCV-CIII)
May 21-27 - Sections 104-131 (CIV-CXXXI)
May 28-June 3 - Epilogue and the poem as a whole"


You may post background information on In Memoriam or Alfred Tennyson in this thread, as well as resources for further research.

Great to see this thread, Renee. I'm interested - I've ordered a copy which is in the post to me and will get started once it arrives.

If we can kindle some interest, I'll set up a proposed reading schedule.

It's not a work to rush through. There are the prologue, epilogue, and 131 sections. While there is no order given in the poem, from the contents the poem is roughly separated by three Christmases, so there are four parts: up to the first Christmas (after Hallam's death), up to the second Christmas, up to the third Christmas, and after the third Christmas. Each part is roughly 30-40 sections long.

Reading it one part per week would be a fairly aggressive reading, though it could be done but wouldn't allow as much time for reflection. A more relaxed, reflective reading would allow two weeks per part if people are willing to take that long over the poem.

But first we have to assemble a group willing to work together to tackle, understand, and appreciate this masterpiece, on top of the regular Victorians selections and any other books we're reading.

Renee posted in the original In Memoriam thread "So far the group looks like Cindy, Clari, Natalie, Judy, and Everyman."

Are all of us still interested? I know Judy is still waiting for the book, so we should at least wait until she gets it (with a work like this we don't want people having to play catch-up). What about others -- does everybody who's interested have the book?

There is a version online (actually, several, but this is a good one), but reading online I know isn't everybody's cup of tea. But if it's yours, here is one version:

I'm definitely tempted to join in (and even have a copy of the book).

This sounds like an interesting bit of poetry. Does anyone have an edition recommendation? There are 97 listed!

I will join in. My edition is from my university days (copyright 1956)--my cousin's (also my first year roommate) name is in it. There are great handwritten notes, some by her and some by me. The most exciting part is an introduction by Marshall McLuhan. This edition is not listed on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, but I will try to add it. If you are interested, there are used copies on Amazon for $8.00. The only copy in Abebooks is going for $60 American.

Since this looks to be a slow, thoughtful treatment, I think I'll be able to join you all. I picked up a Kindle edition, plus something called A Key to Lord Tennyson's In Memoriam by Alfred Gatty. (Although, I'm not sure what to make of it, yet.)

I don't have a recommendation on an edition, but I have the Norton edition, second edition, which has some supplementary materials that maybe useful. I haven't dug into them yet, and am not sure I'll have time to. But they're there if anybody else has that edition.

So we should wait until Judy and Susan get their copies. Is a week enough? If we start around April 9th? Renee, do you have a preference for what day of the week we start?

I just sent a message to both Cindy and Clari to let them know about the new thread and restart. Hopefully, they will still have an interest in joining us.

I have no preference as to start date. I'm ready whenever. :)
I can reset the homepage to April 9 if that works for everyone.

I should have my copy well before then so that will be fine by me. I've ordered the Tennyson: Selected Poems edited by Christopher Ricks, which includes In Memoriam. Thanks Renee and Everyman.

I should have my copy by then as well. If I can't find it tomorrow, I'll order. Shouldn't take but a few days.

Thanks for the message, Renee! Sorry for not responding sooner--I've been working in the yard all day. I am still interested in joining in, and I already have a copy (the Norton Critical Edition). April 9th works for me.

I will join in although I'll be using a Kindle or online version, I think. I think I got an electronic copy last time this group was going to discuss the poem, and then never joined in...

I will join in.

I'll join in as well.

I am joining too.

How wonderful to have so much interest. This is gonna be a great discussion!

I'm inclined to set a schedule for 8 weeks (I notice that that was also the original plan.) Acceptable?

Everyman wrote: "I'm inclined to set a schedule for 8 weeks (I notice that that was also the original plan.) Acceptable?"

Works for me :)

Taking us to June 3, if I counted correctly. I think 8 weeks sounds perfect. I'll update the homepage.

Here is the Discussion Schedule (rather than reading schedule, since we're hoping people will actually discuss, not just read, the poem, and as with all poems multiple reading of passages is often required for greatest understanding and appreciation.)

Many (most?) editions use Roman numbering, so I've added that; I think my translations are correct, but if not, please advise!

Readings aren't all of equal length, but are intended to follow as much as possible the internal structure of the poem. The middle readings are longer, so plan ahead.

April 9-15 - Prologue through Section 14 (XIV)
April 16-22 - Sections 15-27 (XV-XXVII)
April 23-29 - Sections 28-52 (XXVIII-LII)
April 30-May 6 - Sections 53-77 (LIII-LXXVII)
May 7-13 - Sections 78-94 (LXXVIII-XCIV)
May 14-20 - Sections 95-103 (XCV-CIII)
May 21-27 - Sections 104-131 (CIV-CXXXI)
May 28-June 3 - Epilogue and the poem as a whole

The full title of the poem is "In Memoriam A.H.H.

A.H.H. was Arthur Henry Hallam. Hallam and Tennyson were students together at Trinity College, Cambridge. They quickly formed what would be "the deepest and most profound friendship of Tennyson's life." [Introduction to Norton edition, from which most of the following is also drawn.] Hallam was apparently brilliant, destined his friends at Cambridge believed for greatness. He appreciated Tennyson's early poetry, encouraged him to publish it, and reviewed it and another volume two years later which he also was instrumental in getting published.

Tennyson brought Hallam to his home for a visit, where he fell in love with Tennyson's sister Emily, to whom he became engaged (to the disapproval of Hallam's father, who forbid them to see each other until Hallam turned 21. When Hallam did come of age, in February, 1823, the engagement was renewed, and after taking his degree (Tennyson had to leave Cambridge without graduating to support his family after his father's death) Hallam went to London to study law to start a career what would allow him to marry.

In the late summer of 1833 Hallam went with his father for a tour of the continent. On September 15, while in Vienna, Hallam died.

Tennyson was devastated. In Memoriam is the result of that devastation. He began work on the poem shortly thereafter, and worked on it for seventeen years, eventually publishing it privately in 1850.

It was not written in the sequence in which it finally appeared, but Tennyson wrote and revised segments of it for most of those seventeen years. (The first writing is believed to be what is now Section IX concerning the ship bringing Hallam's remains back to England.)

There is a great deal more background on their relationship and Tennyson's life that will probably be of interest as we get into the poem, but this is enough for now. But it is, I think, helpful to realize that the poem was written out of this deep grief for the very early death of such a valued and beloved friend.

I just want to add that as I recall correctly, home life for Tennyson was miserable because his father was drunken and abusive.

Tennyson was one of 12 siblings in a financially-challenged household. They had a family cook who burned to death. The point I heard at university was that because the Tennyson children were brought up in a volatile and melancholy household, that Cambridge seemed like true bliss for Tennyson. He was appreciated; he had friends, and he was able to relax and stretch his mind in a rather sparkling intellectual milieu.

I don't really have anything to add to what Everyman wrote, but simply to acknowledge the deep and profoundly dear friendship Tennyson had with Hallam.

Everyman wrote: "Renee posted in the original In Memoriam thread "So far the group looks like Cindy, Clari, Natalie, Judy, and Everyman."

Are all of us still interested? I know Judy is still waiting for the book, ..."

I am definitely still interested. I thought this was a no go, but everything looks good now.

Everyman wrote: "I'm inclined to set a schedule for 8 weeks (I notice that that was also the original plan.) Acceptable?"

Schedule looks great to me.

Jonathan wrote: "Everyman wrote: "Renee posted in the original In Memoriam thread "So far the group looks like Cindy, Clari, Natalie, Judy, and Everyman."

Are all of us still interested? I know Judy is still waiti..."

Welcome back. I hope your illness is all over and you're fine.

Everyman wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "Everyman wrote: "Renee posted in the original In Memoriam thread "So far the group looks like Cindy, Clari, Natalie, Judy, and Everyman."

Are all of us still interested? I know Ju..."

Everything is fine now. I appreciate your concern. I am glad you got this conversation going, it did not look like it was going to take off. I will join in as much as possible.

I've started reading this now and am looking forward to our discussion.

Just thought I'd share links to a couple of resources:

The Victorian Web's In Memoriam site, which includes an annotated text of the poems:



And a BBC Radio 4 programme, In Our Time, where Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the poem - I'm going to wait to download this until I've read more of the poem, but there is an interesting summary of some of the work's main themes on the page:

Thanks for these links. Just reading a bit of the Victorian web's offering has helped me understand better what Tennyson is doing structurally.

Thanks, Holly. I've realised it looks as if only the first few sections are actually annotated, but there is still a lot of interesting material on the site.

There is an abundance of resources on the Internet about In Memoriam. If you find any of particular usefulness, please post them here.