Selected Letters of John Berryman

The Selected Letters of John Berryman is a collection of Berrymans correspondence with friends, family, writers, and editors, showcasing his turbulent life and mind. It includes over 600 letters to almost 200 people, revealing his ambitions and challenges in the publishing industry and his involvement in literary culture. The letters also reveal his struggles with personal and familial trauma.

Format: Hardback
Length: 736 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2020
Publisher: Harvard University Press

The Selected Letters of John Berryman is a remarkable collection of letters that provides a comprehensive insight into the life and mind of one of America's most celebrated poets. Spanning over six decades, this collection encompasses a vast array of correspondence with friends, loved ones, writers, and editors, showcasing the turbulent and fascinating journey of Berryman's life.

Beginning with a letter to his parents in 1925 and concluding with a letter sent just weeks before his passing in 1972, Berryman narrates his story in his own words. Within these letters, he engages with nearly 200 individuals, including editors, family members, students, colleagues, and friends. The exchanges reveal the breadth of Berryman's ambitions, as well as the challenges he faced in practicing his art within the confines of the publishing industry and contemporary critical expectations.

Correspondence with Ezra Pound, Robert Lowell, Delmore Schwartz, Adrienne Rich, Saul Bellow, and other writers highlights Berryman's significant involvement in shaping literary culture in the postwar United States. He offers detailed responses to the work of writers such as Carolyn Kizer and William Meredith, while also encouraging the next generation of writers, including Edward Hoagland and Valerie Trueblood.

Through his letters, Berryman emerges as an energetic and generous interlocutor, displaying a keen wit and a deep appreciation for literature. However, the letters also reveal his struggles with personal and familial trauma, which persisted throughout his career.

Editors Philip Coleman and Calista McRae have carefully selected these letters and provided contextualization within Berryman's career. Their introduction sheds light on the process of selection and emphasizes the interconnectedness of Berryman's work and personal life. The Selected Letters reinforces Berryman's status as one of the most original voices of his generation and offers new avenues for appreciating and interpreting his poems.

In conclusion, The Selected Letters of John Berryman is a indispensable resource for anyone interested in exploring the life and work of this influential poet. Through his letters, we gain a deeper understanding of Berryman's creative process, his relationships with other writers, and the personal struggles that shaped his artistic journey. This collection serves as a testament to Berryman's enduring legacy and his place as one of the most significant poets of the 20th century.

Weight: 1190g
Dimension: 168 x 245 x 57 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674976252