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Alfred Tennyson by Andrew Lang
page 160 of 219 (73%)
much of spiritualism, for he was greatly interested in that subject,
but he suspended his judgment, and thought that, if in such
manifestations there is anything, 'Pucks, not the spirits of dead
men, reveal themselves.'" This was Southey's suggestion, as regards
the celebrated disturbances in the house of the Wesleys. "Wit might
have much to say, wisdom, little," said Sam Wesley. Probably the
talk about David Dunglas Home, the "medium" then in vogue, led to the
discussion of "spiritualism." We do not hear that Tennyson ever had
the curiosity to see Home, whom Mr Browning so firmly detested.

In September The Holy Grail was begun: it was finished "in about a
week. It came like a breath of inspiration." The subject had for
many years been turned about in the poet's mind, which, of course,
was busy in these years of apparent inactivity. At this time (August
1868) Tennyson left his old publishers, the Moxons, for Mr Strahan,
who endured till 1872. Then he was succeeded by Messrs H. S. King &
Co., who gave place (1879) to Messrs Kegan Paul & Co., while in 1884
Messrs Macmillan became, and continue to be, the publishers. A few
pieces, except Lucretius (Macmillan's Magazine, May 1868)
unimportant, appeared in serials.

Very early in 1869 The Coming of Arthur was composed, while Tennyson
was reading Browning's The Ring and the Book. He and his great
contemporary were on terms of affectionate friendship, though
Tennyson, perhaps, appreciated less of Browning than Browning of
Tennyson. Meanwhile "Old Fitz" kept up a fire of unsympathetic
growls at Browning and all his works. "I have been trying in vain to
read it" (The Ring and the Book), "and yet the Athenaeum tells me it
is wonderfully fine." FitzGerald's ply had been taken long ago; he
wanted verbal music in poetry (no exorbitant desire), while, in
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