Capital of Pain
by Paul Eluard
When Paul Éluard’s Capital of Pain was published in 1926, it caused a sensation. Generally considered to be Éluard’s most powerful poetry collection, one critic wrote: ‘In Capital of Pain, Éluard writes poetry that is pure, spontaneous and intense.’
A true surrealist, Éluard’s poems in Capital of Pain contain details of his controversial personal life. As the collection’s name suggests, Capital of Pain is a document of the poet’s private anguish and personal agony made public and the poetry crackles with immense power.
Today Paul Éluard is considered to be the most gifted of the French surrealist poets and Capital of Pain his surrealist masterpiece.
Product details:
Title: Capital of Pain
Author: Paul Ėluard
Translator: R J Dent
Publisher: Black Scat Books
Publication Date: February 17, 2023
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 132
ISBN-13: 979-8986922485
Item Weight: 7 ounces (198.447 grams)
Dimensions: 5.06 inches x 0.33 inches x 7.81 inches (12.85 cm x 0.84 cm x 19.84 cm)
Book details: https://blackscatbooks.com/2023/02/16/surreal-deal/
Purchase link (US): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVT3QXGD/
Purchase link (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BVT3QXGD/
Purchase link (Aus): https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BVT3QXGD/
Review by Reese Saxment: https://surrealerpool.home.blog/2023/02/21/capital-of-pain-book-review/
Eight of Paul Éluard’s poems from Capital of Pain read by Listen to Poetry: https://listentopoetry.com/paul-eluard/
R J Dent 
May 12, 2021 at 5:35 pm |
Hello R J Dent,
I am no one in particular and my question will waste your time. However, it’s been weeks now since my scientist (i.e. not naturally an Eng Lit appreciator) husband unexpectedly rediscovered the amazing poem he had been “taught” at boarding school, Baldwin’s “Death on a Live Wire”..He showed it to me, and I was astonished by its jolting images & skill. We live in NY ( UK expats) and my frantic internet attempts to find some decent commentary on Baldwin’s works have reaped little. (Your blog is brilliant, by the way.) Do you know of any Eng surveys of poetry that cover Baldwin. I am curious whether the line: “And the gust of his answer tore at his coat
And stuck him stark on the lightning’s bough;” indicates that it was the observer who killed him – by distracting him with a friendly shout, so that he let his coat fatally conduct the electricity
If this seems a bit odd, I understand. But it is a narrative poem and I would like to get a grip on the story.
I will very happily buy any your own publications if you can clarify for me:.
May 14, 2021 at 8:31 am |
Dear Jody
I’m always happy to respond to serious questions. With regards to Michael Baldwin’s poem, Death on a Live Wire, there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of critical commentary on it. In fact, there’s a general shortage of critical studies of Michael Baldwin’s work, which I think is a terrible state of affairs.
I have read two books by Michael Baldwin that shed light on the techniques he uses in his poetry – one is The Way to Write Poetry and the other is Poetry Without Tears. The Way to Write Poetry is readily available; Poetry Without Tears is more difficult to find.
Finally, I agree with your point about how it may well be the observer who contributes to the death of the climbing man by calling out to him.
Regards
R J Dent