Talk:Robert W. Service

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Did Robert W. Service write The Ballad of Eskimo Nell, or was this a parody of his works? --Phil | Talk 11:16, Dec 3, 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Robert Service or Robert W Service

Shouldn't this page be moved to Robert Service (poet) or just Robert Service with a line at the top disambiguating him from the historian. I've never seen him referred to as RWS on any of his books or in any references to him, RS is the name always used. AllanHainey 11:09, 25 March 2006 (UTC)

Please see my note on the discussion page for s:Author:Robert W. Service --Droll 09:49, 29 March 2006 (UTC)

The Library of Congress catatlogs the historian as Robert Service and the poet as Service, Robert W. (Robert William), 1874-1958. --Droll 10:05, 29 March 2006 (UTC)

I don't know how the Library of Congress categorises its works, frankly I don't consider it too relevant. The British Library, at least as authoratative a source, lists the poet as Service, Robert, 1874-1958 and the historian as Service, Robert, 1947- so I'd say that how different catalogues classify them isn't really relevant. We should find the best way for wikipedia/wikisource without necessarily following any other usage (save the most common usage). I would suggest moving RWS to Robert Service (poet) & making the Robert Service page a disambiguation page or just redirecting to RS (Poet), which I think is likely to be the most searched for, & having adisambig line at the top of the article. AllanHainey 10:48, 29 March 2006 (UTC)

I disagree. I understand that there can be a difference of opinion about which name to use. I have always seen him referred to as RWS in the U.S. just as you have seen him referred to as RS. I didn't move the page on Wikisoruce to RWS just out of the blue but because it was my firm belief at the time that it was the best thing to do. I consulted s:user:Zhaladshar before hand. I also updated well over 150 poems to reflect the change while I was changing them to {{header}} format and doing other minor corrections. It seems to me that our difference in opinion arises because of our personal points of view. In the long run what we think should not be the deciding factor. The issue is not isolated to this one author as you imply [edit: it concerns many authors]. I appears to me that it would be best in the long run to have an external standard such as either the LOC or The British Library or some other source such as the Encyclopædia Britannica.

I'm going to copy these comments to s:Wikisource:Scriptorium because I think they are part of the larger discussion going on there. I look forward to you comments. --Droll 21:16, 29 March 2006 (UTC)

Since he's a Canadian poet, might I suggest you find out what he's listed in the National Library or another appropriate Canadian index. And, notwithstanding, at the time of his most productive years, Canada was still part of the British Empire; so in the absence of a Canadian standard (say, what Parks Canada uses, if the Nat'l Archives or Nat'l Library don't address this issue) I'd rather go with the British. Speaking as a Canadian, that is.Skookum1 07:27, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

AMICUS Canadian National Catalogue refers to this author as "Service, Robert W., 1874-1958" and "Service, Robert W. (Robert William), 1874-1958". IMO your point is well made. You might need an account to access this data. I got in using Google. --Droll 21:29, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Photo of young Robert Service

I understand photos of Service as a young man are hard to find and may no longer exist. However, he is such an interesting historical firgure, especially for young people, that some special effort should be made to locate one and obtain permission to include it with his wiki biography. I would undertake this task if requested. However, wiki may already have on hold photos which, for one reason or another (copyright owner's refusal to release?) have not yet been posted. One further note: For some reason, perhaps envy, or perhaps his reclusive personality, Service was ostracized by the Bloomsbury and Gertrude Stein establishments. This needs to be included here. -SH Unsigned comment by User:70.232.60.4 03:40, 14 April 2006

There are a number of copyright-expired photos available from the National Archives of Canada [1], in particular this one [2], but I have been unable to save it on my computer. Maybe there is some kind of copy protection, but the page does say the copyright has expired. Maybe someone more savvy than me could upload it to Wikipedia or Wikimedia Commons. Luigizanasi 20:32, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

I'm not sure that [3] is PD. It says "Copyright: Périmé" and I don't know what that means. --Droll 02:24, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

Perimé means "expired" or "Lapsed" according to my Harrap's New Shorter French and English dictionary. Also aucune in "restrictions on access" means "None". Luigizanasi 03:28, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

It's done! --Droll 04:42, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Criticism and Reviews

I'm not meaning to toad; I just happened to come here after looking at the Pauline Johnson page and there's some "critical analysis". Sadly, I know what to expect here, given the snottiness of the CanLit poetry establishment and the associated critical circles; George Bowering's sniffing at rural/wilderness poetry in BC, much of modelled on Service, is typical: he says something to the effect that "it's not studied in universities, and there's a good reason why". In my own estimation, Service is the Canadian Homer (not Simpson); simple, direct verse that tugs at the gut and speaks in the common tongue, and hangs in the mind like a good tune. A long way from bill bissett and Al Purdy, and thank god for that. Anyway, just opining that a selection of reviews, contemporary and modern alike, if they can be found, might add to the page; not that I agree with them, only it would be interesting to see the posturing of the literary establishment as they debunk his taste in iambics and AABCCB rhyme; which few, if any of them can manage. Service works best when spoken out loud (like Homer), and it resonates with the rawness of the land; the critics generally resonate with the rawness of the ivory tower, and not much more...Skookum1 07:32, 28 July 2006 (UTC)