Talk:Wendell Berry

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Contents

[edit] Dirt Road?

I've removed from the Poetry list "Dirt Road, 1981" because I know of and can find no such book. Can anyone show evidence of such a work? brtom 01:55, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Influences?

I just noticed that someone has listed Thomas Merton as an influence on WB. While it is clear that they knew each other, is there any published or spoken statement by WB or others that Merton was an influence? brtom 18:14, 29 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Poetic Voice?

"His poetic voice is simple and resonant, a kind of plainsong, usually similar in tone to Jane Kenyon but occasionally veering into the territory of Walt Whitman or Biblical prophets."

I'm only marginally aware of Jane Kenyon's overall tone, but I question the usefulness of this comparison. I doubt that Kenyon is any more widely known to the general public than Berry. What other help may be given to a reader who needs a description of Berry's poetic voice? brtom

[edit] Sources?

Would it be possible for someone, preferably the author, to identify the source(s) for the biographical material and the quotations in this article? Thanks ... brtom

I've also tried to tidy up the information related to Berry's farm ... fixing the date of Berry's move to KY ... clarifying that Lane's Landing is near his parents' birth places but is not technically "the family farm" ... and removing the specific acreage number until it can be verified (does anyone know of a definitve source for this info?) ... bt

I think that the unsourced quotations should be removed if citations cannot be given. The "rats and roaches" quote is everywhere on the web (spread no doubt by this article), but no one seems to know where it comes from. I'll wait a week or so and then delete them. brtom 04:52, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


I also am worried about this. In particular, I'm bothered by the statement that he resigned from UK in 1977. That may be true in some bureaucratic sense, but he was most definitely still there teaching and relating to students (like me, for example) in the mid-eighties.Mtalleyrand (talk) 07:28, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

The question of Berry's time at UK has been improved with a citation and the addition of the idea that he returned in 1987. I of course know not to edit the page based on nothing but my own personal knowledge, but it remains the case that I was at student at UK 1982-1986, and Berry had an office in the Patterson Office Tower during that time. I visited with him there many times. I say this to point out that there is still some problem with the factual accuracy of the page, even with the citation.Mtalleyrand (talk) 18:01, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

This is interesting. Three sources I've consulted (Angyal, Merchant, and Grubbs) have spoken of WB's "resigning" in '77 and "returning" or "again" in '87. That said, I'm not trying to deny your own experience. Just trying to figure a way of describing the nature of WB's relation to UK throughout this period. Any suggestions? Maybe something about his "first" and then "second" official connection? But that still does not address the interim covered by your personal knowledge. brtom (talk) 20:55, 3 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Themes and Theses

I think this page desperately needs a section (before quotes) on themes in Wendell Berry's work and his theses. What ideas is he promoting and why? I am not in a good position to do this since I have only read a couple of essays.

[edit] Works: could do with organization

The list of works would be more useful if organized into lists of novels, essays, poetry, etc.

[edit] A Picture?

A picture would be useful. --Spudstud 06:25, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

I'm hunting down a usable picture. brtom 17:52, 10 July 2007 (UTC)

Picture found, permission received, and picture added ... but I don't know how to handle the licensing. Any help? brtom 13:15, 28 July 2007 (UTC)

It looks like you selected GFDL, then added tags for Creative Commons. Which license do you choose for your picture? Stevie is the man! Talk • Work 05:00, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for comment. Ok ... so I only need the GFDL ... but I also need to clearly attribute the photo to David Marshall, its creator. I'mnot sure how to do that with GFDL. brtom 21:52, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

Basically: Say you got the image from David Marshall, linking to his photo website (if he has one), and saying you got his permission to upload the image under the GFDL. Stevie is the man! Talk • Work 03:04, 30 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Joke?

Section Biography opens, "Berry is the fifth of two children born to John Berry"

How is that possible? David Bergan 06:17, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Works listing

I've removed from Works: Poetry the titles of individual poems (which, at any rate were incorrectly dated). I think this listing should stick to books of poetry WB has published. (Well, I've left in a couple of broadsides, just to indicate the range of his publishing) Any objections? brtom 01:08, 30 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Quotations Section

I've removed the section of quotations and blended them in over at WikiQuote. brtom 04:33, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] This is an article, not a school paper

Here we go again, a fan has written a school paper and posted it as an article. There should be NO literary criticism except what can be cited. NO original criticism or analysis, please. The sections below the biography really should be deleted entirely, since they are filled with uncited criticism. Please, someone try to clean them up. — J M Rice (talk) 06:27, 12 May 2008 (UTC)

I hear you. Could you point me toward a strong Wikipedia article on an author which successfully avoids literary criticism?brtom (talk) 03:01, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

Having considered the traits of a "fan site," I don't believe this article falls under that category. I will remove that box in a few days if more specifically "fannish" elements are not pointed out.brtom (talk) 04:00, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

I've brought the Poetry section closer to the article mark, I think. And I'll soon be attacking the Ideas and Fiction section. It doesn't seem that there is REALLY a need to delete everything below the Bio ... The piece just needs a little more elbow grease, no? brtom (talk) 15:54, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

I am removing the "fan site" tag because I fail to see how this article contains "excessive trivia and irrelevant praise, ... lists and collections of links." It does contain what seems like "criticism," but I'm working to provide sources for these elements. I welcome discussion on these points.brtom (talk) 12:55, 17 May 2008 (UTC)