American Originality: Essays on Poetry

American Originality explores the concepts of recent American poetry, its antecedents, and its future, questioning how we distinguish between unique and original work. It also highlights the allure of both shared traditions and the cult of illogic. Louise Glück's essays offer insightful perspectives on the poet's work and the larger themes of American literature, introducing ten younger poets whose work she has advocated.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 208 pages
\n Publication date: 29 April 2021
\n Publisher: Carcanet Press Ltd
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The collection of probing essays titled American Originality delves into the intricate examination of the terms used to contemplate contemporary American poetry, its historical antecedents, including figures such as Whitman, Dickinson, Ovid, Rilke, Thomas Mann, and Keats, as well as its potential future. It raises critical questions about distinguishing between truly unique and original artistic expressions. Through meticulous exploration, the essays delineate the allure of both shared literary traditions and the cult of illogic. At the same time, Louise Glück, renowned for her attention to risk and danger, sheds light on the dynamic journey of the poet at work, navigating between moments of panic, gratitude, agony, and resolution.

In addition to essays on individual writers and broader themes of American literature, the book introduces the terms through which Glück reads and celebrates ten younger poets whose work she has actively advocated. These essays are filled with insightful reflections on Glück's own artistic practice and the work of her contemporaries, making it an indispensable resource for anyone passionate about exploring the realm of new poetry.

\n Weight: 264g\n
Dimension: 135 x 214 x 40 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781800171558\n \n