Alexander McCall SmithWhat W. H. Auden Can Do for You (Writers on Writers, 5)

This book on Auden, as well as, the Isabelle Dalhousie books have been so valuable to me as an American in the time of COVID. Both help me deal with the actual realities of my life &, obviously, of others before me, to realize that my doubts & inner deliberations are part of a larger questioning of how we process & deal with life’s constant challenges. Since I have long believed that the Dalhousie series is a reflection of the author’s own inner life, his constant reference thru Isabelle of Auden’s poetry makes this book an absolute companion for understanding. I do enjoy all the books of this author, but none more than the Dalhousie series. My only request...write faster!

Reading Alexander McCall Smith does my heart such good. His work leaves me happy and hopeful for the world. It appears that W.H. Auden does the same for Alexander McCall Smith! What makes him happy makes this devoted reader happy.

To start with, I also love Auden; perhaps that was one reason I found the book so enjoyable. Many of the poems he discusses I've read and loved for years. He also discussed a couple I wasn't familiar with: a new treat.I especially loved his reading of Auden's poem on Freud. I always believed I got my best understanding of Freud from Auden's poem, and now that is enriched. I also loved his reading of "Septembe 1, 1939", and was surprised to learn that Auden later somewhat disowned that poem. I wish Mr. McCall Smith had talked more about Auden's poem on Yeats, which is also about World War 2: "In the nightmare of the dark. . . "I wonder, Mr. McCall Smith, if you've read Poetic Justice by Amanda Cross (Carolyn Heilbrun). It is also full of the most wonderful Auden quotes.At any rate, thanks so much for such an enjoyable book. I see Auden's belief in the wonder of the ordinary, everyday details of life in Mr. Mcall's Ladies Detective books--also some of my favorite reads.

Though brief and easy to read, this text provides a very useful overview of Auden's poetry and his life. It does not deal in depth with any of his poems. Nor is it anything close to a biography. But some of Auden's poems are somewhat obscure so a first time reader may find this book helpful.

I found this book a bit slow going in places. I wouldn't say McCall Smith convinced me that W.H, Auden was the one for me, or that he showed me how the poetry would change my life. In that sense, either the book, or Auden disappointed. However, it was worth it for the wonderful Alexander McCall Smith autobiographical bits. And what I suspected is eminently clear. McCall Smith's voice is the same as Isabel Dalhousie's, his musings, love of art, music and of course moral philosophy seem to be totally in sync with hers. So if you're an Isabel Dalhousie fan, as I am, the book is a must read.

It's good to have the beautiful explanation of some of Auden's poetry with you when reading Auden. McCall Smith is a master of the English language, and I loved this little book. I bought one for my g'daughter who went off to college this year.

I could write “What Alexander Smith Can Do for You” ... I like his work so much that I could try to explain why and hope that others would feel the same. In fact, his novels have saved my life at times, offering great delight and relief from depression. So I feel about his work like Smith feels about Auden’s. Smith tried to get that across, and I think he’s hoping we explore Auden with an eye for love, which is what his own work is all about.

This is a gem of a book, a real classic. Alexander McCall Smith presents the work and life of the great poet in a way that shows a way of being in the world that is sorely needed today. It also provides a lens through which one can see Isabelle Dallhousie as an embodiment in many ways of that life. McCall Smith reveals the depth of his own heart with utmost characteristic gentleness and humility as he brings to life the work of W.H.Auden. judith Kennedy, Marietta, PA

je n'ai pas eu le temps de tout lire, mais cela me semble bien. je ne puis dire plus Merci

This was a delightful and informative read. It not only provided insight into the poetry of WH Auden but how that poetry affected and influenced Alexander McCall Smith. A wonderful companion for anyone who enjoys the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series and/or the Isabel Dalhousie series"

For those who love Auden and those who love Alexander MacCall Smith a great book well-written and an excellent read, especially on trains as it is not such a huge or heavy book. Enjoy!

Even if you don't know Auden, except for " Funeral Blues", which was read in the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral, you will want to read more after this introduction by McCall Smith. He quotes some famous poems and explains the reason why those poems made a difference in his life. He also tells us some episodes in Auden's life and some important features of Auden's personality that make him so human, so dear to us, so powerful.Even if I am not a native speaker of English, I didn't have any problems in reading this book, because McCall Smith is always clear and "kind" to the reader: by "kind" I mean that he has the ability of putting himself in the reader's shoes, and introducing them to the pleasures of discovering a great poet.

Alexander McCall Smith takes a new direction and produces a gem. For readers whose interest in W H Auden's poetry may have been inspired (or renewed) by the many references to his poems in the Isabel Dalhousie series, this book provides a wonderful opportunity to dig deeper into Auden's work and to be inspired by McCall Smith's love for and interpretation of his words: "Auden lived in a large city........but combated loneliness by creating a community through friendships and intellectual exchange. That is what we, too, must do....."