Edward McCrorie Poetry Reading Brings Woodrow Wilson Era to Life

Edward McCrorie reads from Gretchen;

wife Beatrice Beebe listens

Local literary luminaries and a select group of Rhode Island literature and history aficionados were treated to a rare, intimate poetry reading by Edward “Ted” McCrorie, poet and Professor Emeritus of English at Providence College. The reading was held at the elegant Newport residence of Washington “Rip” Irving III, poet and adjunct professor at Salve Regina University – as well as a descendant of the 19th century author Washington Irving and a good friend of the speaker’s. McCrorie lives in Newport and New York City with his wife, Beatrice Beebe, who also attended the reading.

The evening's Guests included Salve Regina President Sister Jane Gerety, Robert Kelly and Carolyn DuPont of the Redwood Library, author Rob Cowley and his wife Didi, author George Herrick (whose ancestral literary ties go all the way back to 17th Century English poet Robert Herrick) and wife Nanette, Douglas and Mary Riggs, Jim Baker (all three involved with the Redwood Library and its board) and wife Dorothy Schmiderer, Salve Regina faculty members Stephen Trainor and John Quinn along with wife Marguerite, and Brown University English professor Stephen Foley and his wife, Mary Jo.

Edward McCrorie and Rip Irving

After stepping in from an icy winter afternoon, attendees mingled in the front foyer, then were ushered as a group into a large, sunny room to sit for the reading. Mr. McCrorie began with a short poem from an early collection, Gone Games, entitled “Blue Feet,” a poignant descriptive account of his mother’s stay in a hospital and the mixed feelings evoked by witnessing her deteriorating physical state. He then shifted moods to a more humorous, upbeat piece entitled “I’m Like,” which depicts a conversation between an older professor and his younger female student and highlights some glaring generational differences in colloquialisms and their interpretations, embodied by the fluctuating usage and meaning of the word “like.”

McCrorie then read from his newly published 'Story in Verse' called Gretchen, which is set in the time of Woodrow Wilson’s presidency and features overarching political and wartime themes intertwined with an intensely personal love story between two people with very different (and soon to be opposed) backgrounds: Gretchen Schreiber, a fictional Prussian-American citizen, and Jeremy Cohen, a close friend of Wilson’s from their college days at Princeton University. One of the major overtones of the piece was the complications that arise when war is declared on a foreign country, and the resulting negativity in perception towards any Americans who were born in that “enemy land” or who possess close family ties there: a theme that felt all too relevant in light of modern-day events. The poem touches on Wilson’s confusion and difficulty in handling the situation as he tries to be sensitive but also to act in his country’s best interests. The foreword quotes: “Inundated by financial, military, and political complications, the President cannot devote time to every heated confrontation between super patriots in Washington and American citizens born in Germany.” And yet, Jeremy and Gretchen’s romance blossoms undeniably in this hostile social terrain, which comes close to threatening her life at times.

George Herrick, Mary Riggs, and Carolyn DuPont

The excerpts read covered ground that was political, informative, difficult, romantic, humorous, heart-breaking, and, overall, exceedingly human. The wartime setting helped to magnify and heighten the emotions portrayed. A key question McCrorie asked was, “When we commit to war, what happens to freedom and fairness?” One of the highlights of the reading was the colorful description of Edith Wilson, who is portrayed as jovial, kind-hearted, and extremely motivated to help Gretchen in any way she can once she learns of her predicament.

Gretchen covers a lot of ground in a short space – and we say that without even knowing its ending yet! McCrorie’s other published work consists of four books of poetry, as well as verse translations of The Aeneid and The Odyssey. His translation of "The Iliad" is forthcoming from the Johns Hopkins University Press in Spring 2012. He is also working on a long poem about George Washington.

Marguerite & John Quinn, Rip Irving,

Sister Jane Gerety, Stephen Trainor

Following the reading, guests were invited to have their books signed, ask questions, and convene in the foyer and adjacent sitting room for drinks and light hors d’oeuvres.

To learn more about Edward McCrorie’s background and work, visit http://www.providence.edu/Academics/Faculty/Humanities/McCrorie.htm

-- Amanda M. Grosvenor