A Certain World

A Certain World is a unique anthology where poet W.H. Auden curates quotations and passages from other writers, arranging them alphabetically by topic. The collection, published in 1970, represents what Auden himself described as a form of autobiography through others' words. The book covers an expansive range of subjects - from time and mortality to landscapes and human nature - creating a mosaic of literary selections that resonated with Auden throughout his life. Each entry provides insight into the works and ideas that shaped Auden's intellectual world. Through its careful curation and organization, A Certain World functions as both a literary anthology and a personal document, revealing Auden's interests, preoccupations, and worldview through his selection of others' writings. The collection speaks to the interconnectedness of reading, thinking, and self-understanding in the development of a literary mind.

Readers describe A Certain World as a personal commonplace book that reveals Auden's mind through his curated collection of quotes, poems, and excerpts. Readers appreciate: - The organization by themes like "Reading," "Nature," and "Death" - Insights into what influenced Auden's own writing - Discovery of lesser-known authors and works - Auden's brief commentary introducing each section Common criticisms: - No clear system for the selections - Some find it too random and scattered - Missing source citations for many quotes - Print is small and dense Ratings: Goodreads: 4.17/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (6 ratings) Notable reader comment: "Like sitting down with Auden in his library as he shares favorite passages" - Goodreads reviewer Several readers note they return to it repeatedly as a source of quotes and inspiration, though casual readers may find it requires too much academic context to fully appreciate.

The Book of My Life by Girolamo Cardano This Renaissance mathematician's autobiography presents a similar blend of intellectual exploration and personal revelation through carefully curated memories and observations.

Common Reader: First Series by Virginia Woolf Woolf's collection of essays forms a literary mosaic that, like Auden's anthology, reveals a mind engaging with literature through personal connections and intellectual wanderings.

Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov The structure of commentary and citation creates a portrait of consciousness through literary references and scholarly annotation, echoing Auden's method of self-revelation through others' texts.

Specimens of the Table Talk by Samuel Taylor Coleridge This collection preserves Coleridge's wide-ranging intellectual discourse through others' documentation, creating a portrait of a mind through fragmentary observations.

The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton Burton's encyclopedic collection of quotations and observations on human nature creates a similar tapestry of borrowed wisdom and personal reflection.

🔖 Auden conceived this book during a long sea voyage in 1970, where he had time to reflect on his lifetime of reading 🔖 The book's format draws inspiration from medieval commonplace books, which monks and scholars used to compile wisdom from various sources 🔖 Despite including works from hundreds of authors, Auden notably excluded T.S. Eliot, with whom he had a complex literary relationship 🔖 The alphabetical arrangement includes unexpected entries like "Daydreams" and "Frivolity," revealing Auden's playful side alongside serious topics 🔖 The book contains passages in multiple languages, including Latin and German, reflecting Auden's multilingual scholarship and European influences