Description
Product description
Book by
From Library Journal
This is a collection of critical essays on the state of contemporary American poetry. As editor McDowell states, "In agreeing to write for this book, the authors accepted broad suggestions on topics, then followed their individual, aggressive instincts." Herein lies the anthology's salient flaw--its fundamental lack of unity. The reader emerges with the feeling of having read 12 essays that just happen to have been sewn together in one volume. Thus, it is difficult to generalize about the book, but two unfortunate tendencies are noticeable. First, although there is certainly some enlightening analysis, the writing is often marred by pat, reductive pronouncements. Second, several essays are little more than superficial surveys of the topic in hand, devoting one paragraph to each poet covered, then attempting in vain to synthesize a mass of disparate material in a brief conclusion. Not recommended.
- Jeffrey R. Luttrell, Youngstown State Univ., Ohio
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book by
From Library Journal
This is a collection of critical essays on the state of contemporary American poetry. As editor McDowell states, "In agreeing to write for this book, the authors accepted broad suggestions on topics, then followed their individual, aggressive instincts." Herein lies the anthology's salient flaw--its fundamental lack of unity. The reader emerges with the feeling of having read 12 essays that just happen to have been sewn together in one volume. Thus, it is difficult to generalize about the book, but two unfortunate tendencies are noticeable. First, although there is certainly some enlightening analysis, the writing is often marred by pat, reductive pronouncements. Second, several essays are little more than superficial surveys of the topic in hand, devoting one paragraph to each poet covered, then attempting in vain to synthesize a mass of disparate material in a brief conclusion. Not recommended.
- Jeffrey R. Luttrell, Youngstown State Univ., Ohio
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
