280
this peculiar latent vileness in
clerks whose origin I imagine to lie
in the unproductive and indeed
unreal nature of their work and in
the ambiguous position which they
occupy in contemporary society.
Politically, however, I never
have known where I stood for
more than a few weeks at a time.
I fancy I could be called an anti–
Tory. I am also strongly opposed
to all the forms of nationalism, the
little, unsuccessful nationalisms as
well as the big, successful ones.
That is to say, to Welsh and Scots
as well as German and English
nationalism. I believe that one of
the least important factors in
man's life is heredity, and I like
the man who makes no local tem–
poral excuse for his activities. But
I doubt whether I should still be
a socialist if the Tories were out,
COMING IN MAY:
PARTI S AN REVIEW
and I am afraid I cannot even be–
lieve that the anarchists are se–
rious.
Of one thing I am convinced,
and that is the necessity for educa–
tion and yet more education.
There is a sense in which all
modern war and the politics which
lead to war are a direct result of
democracy. In this sense, "demo–
cracy" means "popularisation." It
is a sense in which Germany and
Russia are as democratic as Eng–
land or the United States in that
they are not governed and con–
trolled by any true or even tradi–
tional elite. Nor could they be. The
day of a governing elite is past.
What is required is that the peo–
ple shall hurry and drink deep of
the Pierian spring. At present, they
have a little knowledge and abomi–
nably misuse it. Art has been given
HERMANN BROCH
THE DEATH OF VIRGIL
T ranslated by Jean Starr Untermeyer
Broch, known to English and American readers by his memorable
trilogy THE SLEEPWALKERS, explores in this unique book fields of
human consciousness never before brought into view. A poet dies,
and in dying gains a clear realization of the trends by which his
epoch was influenced toward the understanding of death and
immortality.
Henry Seidel Canby :
"This prose poem, with its concentrated narrative
philosophy and its intensely vivid background, seems to me one of the
really important books in recent times."
Thomas Mann:
"A boldly conceived, original and astonishing performance,
the magic of which must grip everyone who comes in contact with it."
English edition $5.50
Original German version $6.50
Both editions $10.00
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