- Paperback: 321 pages
- Publisher: Vintage Books; 1st Vintage Books Ed edition (1 April 1997)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0679776435
- ISBN-13: 978-0679776437
- Product Dimensions: 13.1 x 1.8 x 20.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,365,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
In this generous anthology, Joel Conarroe has assembled the work of eight poets who have shaped--and to some extent defined--American verse since 1940: Elizabeth Bishop, James Merrill, Sylvia Plath, Allen Ginsberg, Theodore Roethke, John Berryman, Anne Sexton, and Robert Lowell. The 164 selections in Eight American Poets include widely anthologized works like Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz," several of Berryman's "Dream Songs," and Anne Sexton's "Ringing the Bells," as well as poems that are less familiar but just as haunting. Prefaced with a discerning introduction and individual biographical essays.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
If you like contemporary poetry this is the book for you. The wide range of styles contained in the book is amazing. It revived my own desire and ability to write. It is the perfect companion to Six American Poets. I can not wait for Conarroe's next work.
Format:Paperback
Ah, a fine comparison and contrast in studies on the eight best american confessional poets ever. Kudos to the editor on a fine choice of poems, and candid biographies on each poet. Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, Allen Ginsberg, John Berryman, Theodore Roethke, Elizabeth Bishop and the other guy, here's to you. <tipping up cup and chugging>
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
An excellent introduction to 8 major poets
6 Sep 2004
Format:Paperback
For someone just coming into an appreciation of poetry-somewhat suspiciously like myself-Conarroe's anthology approach is perfect: concentrate on just a few major poets and provide an introduction to each and a generous sampling of their poetry.
I have owned this book for several years now and it introduced me to what are now some of my favorite poets (Elizabeth Bishop, Theodore Roethke, Anne Sexton, Robert Lowell). It is a book that I go back to time and time again, and I encourage anyone to include it in their collection.
Jeremy W. Forstadt
I have owned this book for several years now and it introduced me to what are now some of my favorite poets (Elizabeth Bishop, Theodore Roethke, Anne Sexton, Robert Lowell). It is a book that I go back to time and time again, and I encourage anyone to include it in their collection.
Jeremy W. Forstadt
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
From "Six" to "Eight"
9 Oct 2001
Format:Paperback
"Eight American Poets," edited by Joel Conarroe, is a fine anthology. The introduction notes that this book was "designed as a companion volume to 'Six American Poets,'" also edited by Conarroe. "Eight" follows the same plan as "Six": rather than anthologize a huge company of poets who are represented by only a few pieces each, each of Conarroe's books focuses on a relatively small group of poets, each of whom is represented by a substantial selection. Conarroe's approach allows the reader to get a fuller feel of each poet in the anthology format.
The poets of "Eight" are Theodore Roethke, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Lowell, John Berryman, Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath, Allen Ginsburg, and James Merrill. Each poet's work is prefaced by a substantial individual introduction.
There are many masterpieces in this book. Curiously, I found the most compelling poems to be those that focus on nature: Roethke's "The Meadow Mouse," Bishop's "The Fish," Plath's "Mushrooms," and Merrill's "The Octopus." Poems like these combine skillfully used language with keen insight, and reveal these poets to be true heirs of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson (two of the featured artists in "Six American Poets").
Overall, I felt that "Eight" was not as strong as its sister volume, "Six." Although there are many poetic masterpieces in "Eight," there is also much material which, in my opinion, hasn't aged well. The so-called "confessional poetry" of some of these writers strikes me as overwrought. Some of the longer poems failed to resonate with me. I was particularly disappointed by Berryman's "Homage to Mistress Bradstreet," especially since I am an admirer of Anne Bradtreet's own work. Admittedly, this criticism may merely reflect my own personal tastes, but I submit it for the reader's consideration.
The fact that so many of these poets either wrote about each other, or pop up in the editor's introductions to each others' work, sometimes gives the book as a whole a creepy, incestuous feel. And the fact that so many of these poets committed suicide, had long-term mental health problems, and/or suffered from addictions further gives the book as a whole a rather morbid feel. On second thought, maybe this group of eight is a bit problematic!
Still, editor Conarroe has assembled an impressive anthology that I would recommend for students and teachers, as well as to a general readership. Although a mixed bag, "Eight American Poets" contains some truly enduring work by an octet whose legacy is secure.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
This is really good stuff
23 Jan 1999
Format:Paperback
If you like contemporary poetry this is the book for you. The wide range of styles contained in the book is amazing. It revived my own desire and ability to write. It is the perfect companion to Six American Poets. I can not wait for Conarroe's next work.
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