Impossible to Tell: On Robert Pinsky Impossible to Tell: On Robert Pinsky
Robert Pinsky’s Selected Poems shows that being popular doesn't entail being predictable.
Jun 25, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Jeremy Bass
Among the Tufted Canes: Twentieth-Century Italian Poetry Among the Tufted Canes: Twentieth-Century Italian Poetry
Geoffrey Brock’s anthology of twentieth-century Italian poetry offers the risk of a counter-eloquence.
Apr 11, 2012 / Books & the Arts / James Longenbach
Adrienne Rich’s Touch Was Political Adrienne Rich’s Touch Was Political
A poet passionately engaged with writing and politics, she said "art means nothing if it simply decorates the dinner table of the power which holds it hostage."
Mar 29, 2012 / Books & the Arts / John Nichols
‘I am not myself’ ‘I am not myself’
I’m severely everyone & it hurts if I’m sick you’ll take care of me? “Oh, yeah sure of course.”
Mar 27, 2012 / Books & the Arts / John Coletti
Wislawa Szymborska, 1923–2012 Wislawa Szymborska, 1923–2012
The great Polish poet disclaimed grand political schemes in favor of irony, wit, skepticism and the individual.
Feb 15, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Katha Pollitt
Anxious and Paralyzed: On Spahr, Gordon, Moschovakis and Ossip Anxious and Paralyzed: On Spahr, Gordon, Moschovakis and Ossip
Books by four poets about big modern systems whose results and failures seem inescapable.
Jan 4, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Stephen Burt
Shelf Life Shelf Life
Rita Dove's Penguin Anthology of 20th Century Poetry.
Nov 2, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Jeremy Bass
This Is Just to Say: On William Carlos Williams This Is Just to Say: On William Carlos Williams
A new biography shortchanges the poetic achievement of William Carlos Williams.
Oct 26, 2011 / Books & the Arts / James Longenbach
In the Middle of Life: On Tadeusz Rózewicz In the Middle of Life: On Tadeusz Rózewicz
A Polish poet’s searing and confused lyricism.
Sep 27, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Jennifer Grotz
Visions and Revisions: On T.S. Eliot Visions and Revisions: On T.S. Eliot
Two volumes of T.S. Eliot's letters elucidate how the momentous achievements of his art were determined by moments of awful daring.
Sep 6, 2011 / Books & the Arts / James Longenbach