BURT, MAXWELL STRUTHERS. Songs and portraits. *$1.50 Scribner 811
20–8428
“A nature modestly reflective as well as emotionally alert is revealed in ‘Songs and portraits’ by Maxwell Struthers Burt. The poems reminiscent of the dead, in form and spirit not unlike those of Rupert Brooke, express the belief that ‘the dead know all.’ In ‘Fishing’ and ‘Marchen’ this Princeton poet paints gay and naive little small-boy pictures. He reasons rather bitterly against frantic fanatics and pudgy-fingered plutocrats.”—Springf’d Republican
+ Booklist 17:60 N ’20
“Mr Burt’s ear and his learning are much indebted to Rupert Brooke—but it is a sorrowful thing to see anyone assume so easily all the palpable qualities of another. There are the same studied irrelevancies, the same feminine endings, the same delight in names. Mr Burt has imitated most of the many things we would like to forget in Rupert Brooke, including his glorification of war and death.” G. T.
− + Freeman 1:526 Ag 11 ’20 250w
“When at last he shall speak thoughts all his own, it is hoped that he will not have lost his really very lovely gift of expression, his round, elegant, springtime pregnancy and shapeliness of phrase.” Mark Van Doren
+ − Nation 111:sup414 O 13 ’20 100w
“Although many of the poems seem unfinished, as if their maker had had the right poetic impulse but scant leisure, nevertheless there is a warmth and naturalness of utterance In all of them that will rejoice the hearts of those who are weary of strident or vapid artificialities.” Margaret Wilkinson