The Oxford Book of Friendship
Published on 18. April 1991
Book
Hardback
374 pages
978-0-19-214190-3 (ISBN)
Description
Thoreau said that the honourable institution of friendship is `older than Hindostan and the Chinese Empire'. Much older in fact, for it originated with Adam, who soon desired the `rational delight' of fellowship, whereupon God agreed that it was not good for him to be alone. But the word `friendship' has many connotations, and this book divides into twelve sections to explore them all in detail.
Beginning with thoughts on the nature of the phenomenon, and how to lose friends as well as keep them, the editors move on to friendship among men, among women, between women and men (including the troubled territory where friendship pays the penalty for blossoming into love), between humans and animals, in youth and in age, between individuals of disparate races and creeds, friendship under stress, in time of war and in prison camps, imaginary friends, failure and betrayal, reconciliation, absence and loss.
From biblical friendships (David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi) to literary ones (Goethe and Schiller, Pound and Eliot), the evidence of deep and passionate feelings abounds, often expressed most eloquently in letters, such as the fifteen-year correspondence between John Masefield and a much younger admirer, and that between William Archer and his friend of forty years George Bernard Shaw. Is it better to have many friends or few? Are old friends best, or should we look for new ones? What do we most commonly expect of our friends, assistance or amusement?
Hopes alternate with doubts, sceptics are represented (for Schopenhauer, true friendship belonged to the same category as the Loch Ness Monster) as well as enthusiasts, the down-to-earth as well as the high-minded. Embracing the intense and the tranquil, the sorrowful and the comical, The Oxford Book of Friendship makes irresistible reading and the perfect gift.
Beginning with thoughts on the nature of the phenomenon, and how to lose friends as well as keep them, the editors move on to friendship among men, among women, between women and men (including the troubled territory where friendship pays the penalty for blossoming into love), between humans and animals, in youth and in age, between individuals of disparate races and creeds, friendship under stress, in time of war and in prison camps, imaginary friends, failure and betrayal, reconciliation, absence and loss.
From biblical friendships (David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi) to literary ones (Goethe and Schiller, Pound and Eliot), the evidence of deep and passionate feelings abounds, often expressed most eloquently in letters, such as the fifteen-year correspondence between John Masefield and a much younger admirer, and that between William Archer and his friend of forty years George Bernard Shaw. Is it better to have many friends or few? Are old friends best, or should we look for new ones? What do we most commonly expect of our friends, assistance or amusement?
Hopes alternate with doubts, sceptics are represented (for Schopenhauer, true friendship belonged to the same category as the Loch Ness Monster) as well as enthusiasts, the down-to-earth as well as the high-minded. Embracing the intense and the tranquil, the sorrowful and the comical, The Oxford Book of Friendship makes irresistible reading and the perfect gift.
Reviews / Votes
`meant as entertainment, in my view an admirable function, and this collection on friendship performs it rather well' John Mortimer, Sunday Times `One of the delights of these books is being introduced to interesting writers never before encountered...The excellence of writers once familiar but by now perhaps abandoned is restored to us.' Literary Review `This book merits a worthy position in the league table of Oxford books on Life's Great Topics...It is hard to think of anyone being displeased with it.' Literary Review `This anthology is like a stimulating friend...it rarely failed to keep me interested...this is a valuable book.' Wendy Cope, Daily Telegraph 'One of the delights of these books is being introduced to interesting writers never before encountered. The excellence of writers once familiar but by now perhaps abandoned is restored to us. This book merits a worthy position in the league table of Oxford books on Life's Great Topics. It is hard to think of anyone being displeased with it.'Eryl Lloyd Parry, Literary Review 'This anthology is like a stimulating friend - we had our disagreements but it rarely failed to keep me interested ... a valuable book'
Wendy Cope, Weekend Telegraph 'there is no lack of treasure trove ... There are some poignant moments.'
E.S. Turner, The European 'friendship matters in almost any life and covers a range of relationships ... You could compile another and hardly overlap with this; but, unless composed as thoughtfully, yours would not be half so stimulating ... without straining their attention span, the editors attract young browsers to minds which carry weight. Here they learn without pain that literature braces in heart and soul as well as mind.'
Antony Mackenzie Smith, The Tablet 'Enright and Rawlinson have done an excellent editorial job in selection'
Jane O'Grady, Financial Times 'This volume has been compiled with scholarship, appreciation, and affection.'
Peter Hacket SJ, The Month, July 1991
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
661 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-214190-3 (9780192141903)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
D. J. Enright is poet and critic; editor of OB Death
Content
The nature of friendship; do's and dont's; among men; among women; between men and women; youth and age; strangers, enemies, friends; assorted affinities; animals; fears, failures and false friends; absence and loss; friendly gestures.