Pascal,Powys and Ligotti

[Beclabbered]

In my late teens I discovered Powys while just wandering around the University of Iowa library. I think Philosophy of Solitude was the title that caught my attention. I read that and then read several other of his non-fiction books. The more of his non-fiction books I read, the better I was able to understand his views (which are sometimes expressed obscurely or obliquely). I recommend Homer and the Aether, which is a re-telling of the Illiad. Powys adds his own interpretations, which are observations and insights he divulges through the voice of the aether.
In regards to Theodore Powys, I read and enjoyed Mr. Weston's Good Wine. His non-fiction book, Soliloquies of a Hermit was also very impressive. I intend to re-read it at some point since his ideas are also sometimes difficult to grasp.

[Bleak&Icy]

From Visions and Revisions: A Book of Literary Devotions by John Cowper Powys:

Deep yawns below Deep; and if we cannot read "the writing upon the wall," the reason may be that there is no writing there. Having lifted a corner of the Veil of Isis, having glanced once into that Death-Kingdom where grope the roots of the Ash-Tree whose name is Fear, we return to the surface, from Nadir to Zenith, and become "superficial"--"out of profundity."

The infinite spaces, as Pascal said, are "frightful." That way madness lies. And those who would be sane upon earth must drug themselves with the experience, or with the spectacle of the experience, of human passion. Within this charmed circle, and here alone, they may be permitted to forget the Outer Terror.

[Malone]

I've discovered that several of Powys' non-fiction works are available on Project Guttenburg for free perusal and download,including Visions and Revisions and One Hundred Best Books.

[Bleak&Icy]

Quote Originally Posted by Malone

I've discovered that several of Powys' non-fiction works are available on Project Guttenburg for free perusal and download,including Visions and Revisions and One Hundred Best Books.

There is another website--manybooks.net--which allows you to download ebooks in a dozen different formats. You can even create a custom pdf document. At present they have four non-fiction works by JCP available: http://manybooks.net/authors/powysj.html

[Viva June]

Three Fantasies is one of the weirdest books I own and, sadly, the only book of Powys's that I have read. I have tried several times to read some of his longer works, but occult circumstances always prevent me from reaching even the hundreth-page mark (in the case of Porius, though, I merely decided that the book was terrible).

What about the other other Powys, Llewelyn? I have been curious about him ever since I learned that he was Larkin's favourite.