Customer Reviews

Across Spoon River (Prairie State Books)

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This frank verbal self-portrait reveals the forming of the epitaphal poet. His early years are seen against the backdrop of his midwestern roots, his law training, and emergent writing. Particularly of interest are his anecdotes of life in the Chicago of Clarence Darrow, the White City, and his romantic ventures. The text gives insight into what formed the voices of Spoon River Anthology. It's haunting, wistful and funny. Tender nostalgia, particularly for Illinoisans.

Best known for his 1915 bestseller "Spoon River Anthology", Masters writes in a style simple and intimate; something that almost anyone can read.

This personal portrait paints a picture of the attorney/author's life, loves, pinnacles, and misfortunes, and gives us a clear view of life as it was at the turn of the century.

Born in Garnett, Kansas, and raised in the Petersburg, Illinois region, Masters tells the story of the famous and not-so-famous people who touched his life and left their marks on this celebrated author.

I have both Across Spoon River and Spoon River Anthology.
Across Spoon River is boring. Masters goes off a great deal to tell about his numerous family members. I had lost track of them very soon.

On the other hand, Spoon River Anthology is interesting and dynamic. It is a masterpiece actually. When I first checked out the book from a library, I only read one poem per day to prolong the pleasure.

By the way, reading Masters' poems, I've noticed many logical expressions.
In programming terms, some of the poems contain while, for loops, switch, and if else statements.
Awesome discovery.