Jersey Breaks: Becoming an American Poet

In late-1940s Long Branch, Robert Pinsky began his journey to becoming a poet, inspired by the rhythms and melodies of speech and the voices of his neighborhood. His poetry reflects a wide range of influences, including Mark Twain, Ray Charles, Marianne Moore, Mel Brooks, Emily Dickinson, Sid Caesar, Dante Alighieri, and the Orthodox Jewish liturgy, and offers a unique poetic understanding of American culture.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 11 November 2022
Publisher: WW Norton & Co

In the late 1940s, nestled along the historic Jersey Shore, Long Branch emerged as a run-down resort town, inhabited by a diverse community of Italian, Black, and Jewish families. Within this vibrant neighborhood, Robert Pinsky embarked on an extraordinary journey, destined to become a celebrated poet. Born to a bootlegger grandfather, an athletic father, and a rebellious tomboy mother, Pinsky possessed a unique blend of unruly energy and articulate intelligence. Despite his academic struggles as a high-school C-student, his profound fascination with the rhythms and melodies of speech ignited a creative spark within him, propelling him toward the realm of poetry.

Pinsky delves into the origins of his poetic voice, with its expansive and audacious range, tracing it back to the voices of his neighborhood. He draws inspiration from a rich tapestry of sources, including music, a distinct American tradition of improvisation, and influences ranging from Mark Twain and Ray Charles to Marianne Moore and Mel Brooks, Emily Dickinson and Sid Caesar, Dante Alighieri, and the Orthodox Jewish liturgy.

Jersey Breaks serves as a candid self-portrait, offering a profound insight into Pinsky's remarkable public presence and his unprecedented three terms as poet laureate of the United States. Through his poetry, Pinsky unveils a unique poetic understanding of American culture, capturing the essence of its diversity, complexity, and ever-evolving spirit.

In conclusion, Robert Pinsky's journey from a run-down Jersey Shore resort town to becoming a celebrated poet is a testament to the power of passion, determination, and a deep connection to the rhythms of language. His poetry, infused with a diverse range of influences, reflects the rich tapestry of American culture, offering a profound insight into the human experience and capturing the essence of the nation's soul.

Weight: 398g
Dimension: 218 x 147 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780393882049