p.s. on Wilson on Pound

Yesterday I quoted Wilson’s point that Pound’s excessive insulting of the United States proved a sort of overcompensation on Pound’s part. (Though as stated here in June, I do love Pound’s exuberance, especially when compared with Eliot’s incredibly depressing personality and life. One of Pound’s greatest and rarest talents was that he cared just as much about furthering the work of others as he did furthering his own work. He would become so excited after reading something great by one of his friends.)

In any case, I should have added for those who don’t know Wilson that he was no naive and automatic patriot, but a bit of a leftie and someone who thought that the U.S. had been permanently defaced by the growth of big business in the late 19th century. So, his remark about Pound insulting the USA too much was simply a discerning point, not a symptom of offended nationalism.