ISABEL PATERSON Post #2

Tags

America, American Literary History, autodidact, Ayn Rand, A[horist, Bildungsroman, Canada, Conservative, I.M.P., Lake Huron, Liberal, Libertarian, Manitoulin Island, Never Ask the End, Ontario, Sinclair Lewis, Steven Cox, The God of the Machine, Turns of a Bookworm

Most of today’s post will contain extracts from a literary paper. That paper was written by the young boy who accidentally picked up a dusty old copy of Isabel Paterson’s “Never Ask the End” (1933); his name is Stephen Cox.

Stephen Cox is a man that speaks straight forward without spin or hyperbole. Possibly he picked that quality up from Isabel Paterson. I include a quote from him that shows his respect for Paterson’s clarity and style

 

Cox finds a clear and concise way to describe Paterson that I could not; “One of America’s great aphorists”, one who can state an original thought, spoken or written, in a concise and memorable form.

I continue on with extracts from Cox’s paper that originally appeared in a literary journal.

From Wikipedia: A Bildungsroman tells about the growing up or coming of age of a sensitive person who is looking for answers and experience. The genre evolved from folklore tales of a dunce or youngest son going out in the world to seek his fortune. Usually in the beginning of the story there is an emotional loss which makes the protagonist leave on his journey. In a Bildungsroman, the goal is maturity, and the protagonist achieves it gradually and with difficulty. The genre often features a main conflict between the main character and society. Typically, the values of society are gradually accepted by the protagonist and he is ultimately accepted into society – the protagonist’s mistakes and disappointments are over. In some works, the protagonist is able to reach out and help others after having achieved maturity.

I believe this lists enough of Paterson’s early years to establish a rough image of her personality.

However there are others who have a quite different view of her early growth and experiences.

I post the link below if you wish to see what that view. This is the first of a series of cartoons that, to me, tarnish Paterson’s individualism and self-confidence.

 Cartoon 1

An Introduction: ISABEL MARY PATERSON Post #1

Tags

America, autodidact, Ayn Rand, Canada, Conservative, I.M.P., iconoclast, Lake Huron, Liberal, Libertarian, Manitoulin Island, Never Ask the End, Ontario, Sinclair Lewis, Stephan Cox, The God of the Machine

In this blog we have read about several men;

Henry Birdsall

Jean Guilliame Bessac

Lt. Col. Birdsall

and now – – – we are in the middle of the Poetry of Paul Hamilton Hayne.

It is time to introduce a woman to this blog.

To a few people Isabel Paterson needs no introduction. However, to most of us, she needs to be introduced. Like the others that have appeared in this blog, Isabel Mary Paterson was almost lost to us; and that would have been a shame.

As I said, a few people have resurrected “I.M.P” as she sometimes liked to refer to herself.

She has been adopted by people who have the Libertarian political bent. This is not much different than Ayn Rand who has been adopted by people who have the Conservative political leanings. Or any different than Sinclair Lewis who has been adopted by today’s Liberals who favor government intervention as opposed to today’s Libertarians who prefer government not interfere with daily life.

I must hasten to say that this series of posts will remain clear of politics. Politics have ruined Facebook and I am not about to do the same to this blog.

So soon, I must amend that last paragraph.

Isabel Paterson did not wish to be political, she wished to be logical; and straight forward. But her views on her adopted country, America, were straight forward and logical; therefore, she invited political commentary to be aimed at her.

Isabel Paterson’s writings were “life and purpose” as she saw it; clearly and succinctly. It was her philosophy, her viewpoint. These viewpoints were so clear-cut that others, who did not know how to clearly explain their thoughts, grasped on to it. Therefore her writings resulted in the adoption of her thoughts by the others.

Isabel Mary Paterson was born Isabel Mary Bowler on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. She was self-taught and worked at several clerical jobs, became a stenographer, book keeper, journalist, author, editorial writer and aide to a future Prime Minister of Canada.

Needless to say she was a voracious reader and learner; or as some people have called her, an autodidact.

{From Wikipedia: Autodidacticism is self-directed learning that is related to but different from informal learning. In a sense, autodidacticism is “learning on your own” or “by yourself”, and an autodidact is a self-teacher. Autodidacticism is a contemplative, absorptive procession. Some autodidacts spend a great deal of time reviewing the resources of libraries and educational websites.}

Isabel Mary Paterson was born on January 22, 1886 and died on January 10, 1961.

She had been a thoughtful and prolific writer before her 30’s; however, the majority of her public work was done between the mid 1930’s and 1950.

Her work had been ridiculed by various book reviewers such as those in the Times Magazine. On the other hand her work has been resurrected in the last fifteen years.

This introduction is a very short overview of I.M.P.

In future posts we will look at some of her work, her travels and those that she influenced.

For a frail girl born on an island in the middle of Lake Huron, she has left an indelible mark on the thinking of her America; particularly on the United States.

Some may call her an iconoclast. To me, it seems, she just had a wish to be clear on her thoughts and – – – was confident enough to have a desire to share them. Possibly that could be the reason she was, and continues to be, a target for so many people; her self-confidence.

When she passed away, in 1961, she had almost been forgotten.

However, through an ironic twist, a woman she mentored, a woman who wanted to out-do her, a woman who had to use Isabel’s master work “The God of the Machine” to explain her own views, may have been the very person that kept I.M.P.’s work alive.

This unexpected consequence may have been what kept Isabel Paterson visible from her death in January, 1961 until the mid-1990’s.

A young boy’s discovery of a dusty old copy of  I.M.P.’s 1933 “Never Ask the End” followed by the discovery of her “The God of the Machine” inspired Stephen Cox to carry her story forward from her death until today.

I hope you enjoy her story and thoughts as much as I have.