Re Verse: Essays on Poetry and Poets

✍ Scribed by David R. Slavitt

• Publisher: Northwestern University Press
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 225
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

David R. Slavitt will tell you that he does not believe in literary criticism so much as in ''remarks,'' which are more portable and, often, more enlightening. In this witty and unusual work, he remarks upon the life of a poet in the second half of the twentieth century, how it was--and how it is--to be an American writer. Combining personal reminiscence with deft literary analysis, incisive biographical sketches, and, sometimes, literary gossip, these essays give new perspectives on the famous--such as Harold Bloom, Robert Penn Warren, Robert Frost, and Stephen Spender--and recover the charms of the near-forgotten--such as Dudley Fitts, Winfield Townley Scott, Merrill Moore and John Hall Wheelock. Slavitt writes with self-deprecating humor of his own literary education, and uses his impressive experience and erudition to illuminate the whims of poetic influence, passion, and reputation. With a refreshing honesty and considerable poise, he gives readers an enlightening view of the vast and ever-changing literary universe.

✦ Table of Contents

CONTENTS......Page 8
A Master's Essay: Dudley Fitts......Page 12
Dr. Moore......Page 34
Winfield Townley Scott......Page 42
“An Anatomy of the World: The First Anniversary” by John Donne......Page 53
Shine in the Dreadfull Dark: The Sidnean Psalms......Page 73
Harold Bloom and the Decline of Civility......Page 87
Robert Penn Warren......Page 104
Poetic Justice......Page 114
John Hall Wheelock......Page 120
Adrien Stoutenburg......Page 137
Ole Fred......Page 149
Thomas McAfee......Page 157
Richaleh: Richard Elman......Page 166
So There Were These Two Jews: The Poetry of Irving Feldman......Page 189
The Poetry of Grief......Page 204
INDEX......Page 220