20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

160 Ilie Rad“Given that the Romanian literature comprises all the Romanian writings,it is much more appropriate to use the Romanian term scriptura because itmeans the totality of writings.” 19In the same study, Maiorescu argues against the eulogistic portrayalof certain writers: Prale was “a strangely behaved genius of a man” andDr. Vasile Pop, “an intelligent, zealous man”; the biography of poet NeofitScriban is “four times longer than that of Gr. Alexandrescu and rife withmonastic intrigues”, the critic wondering “if a school book could beforgiven for discussing such matters.” 20Finally, Pumnul is accused of allocating 76 pages to Daniil’s Scavinchiwritings, when “this amusing but rather vulgar author” would have deservedno more than “a small sample” of his work. Maiorescu’s conclusion is verycategorical: “Alecsandri, Bolintineanu, Grigore Alexandrescu, ConstantinNegruzzi can serve as models in many of their poems, but as for the others,we should better return to translations from Mr. Mozart’s book and fromother foreign anthologies until we ourselves have a richer literature.” 216. Eminescu in defence of The Reader (Lepturariul)Petrino’s booklet, as well as Maiorescu’s critical opinions werepublished after Aron Pumnul’s death, when the author under attack couldno longer defend himself. Fortunately, his memory was defended by themost brilliant of his pupils, Mihai Eminescu. 22In his comprehensive essay, A Critical Writing (O scriere critică),Eminescu analyses both Petrino’s booklet and Maiorescu objections. Thus,referring to the criticism that Pumnul had exaggerated with his praiseof certain authors, Eminescu wrote: “If The Reader (Lepturariul) hasexceeded in the praise of some people who are no longer with us, at leastmany of them were valiant pioneers of Romanian nationalism – pioneers,gregarious soldiers, whose great hearts yielded more than their minds – it’strue! – who, if not geniuses, were at least people of vast erudition, suchas cannot be found among our young dandies!” 23 This concept perfectly19I.G. Sbiera, Aron Pumnul. Voices on life..., ed. cit., 270.20Titu Maiorescu 1978, Works, I, Edition, notes, options, index by GeorgetaRǎdulescu-Dulgheru and Domnica Filimon. Introductory study by Eugen Todoran,Bucharest: Minerva Publisher, 121.21Ibidem, 124.22M. Eminescu 1980, Works, IX. The Publishing, 1870-1877. The introductorystudy Al. Oprea. With 68 reproductions of manuscripts and publications, Bucharest: TheAcademy of The Socialist Republic of Romania Publisher, 79-84.23Ibidem, 82.