The Best American Poetry 1995 [Paperback]

David Lehman (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Best American Poetry | Publication Date: September 15, 1995

The Best American Poetry 1995 once again highlights the dazzling spectrum of style and subject matter to be found in the art today. Guest editor Richard Howard's accent is on discovery and surprise, and he has gleaned the most inventive and searching writing from a wide variety of literary journals. The themes and imagery here are indisputably "American," as our best poets continue to mine personal as well as communal experience for their work. Now in its eighth year, this series has established itself as a rich and vibrant source of new poetry -- celebrated in bookstores and on college campuses. Welcome, once again, the memorable voices and unique pleasures of Best American Poetry.

Featuring:

Margaret Atwood

Sally Ball

Catherine Bowman

Stephanie Brown

Lewis Buzbee

Cathleen Calbert

Rafael Campo

William Carpenter

Nicholas Christopher

Jane Cooper

James Cummins

Olena Kalytiak Davis

Lynn Emanuel

Elaine Equi

Irving Feldman

Donald Finkel

Aaron Fogel

Richard Frost

Allen Ginsberg

Peter Gizzi

Jody Gladding

Elton Glaser

Albert Goldbarth

Beckian Fritz Goldberg

Laurence Goldstein

Barbara Guest

Marilyn Hacker

Judith Hall

Anthony Hecht

Edward Hirsch

Janet Holmes

Andrew Hudgins

T.R. Hummer

Brigit Pegeen Kelly

Karl Kirchwey

Carolyn Kizer

Wayne Koestenbaum

John Koethe

Yusef Komunyakaa

Maxine Kumin

Lisa Lewis

Rachel Loden

Robert Hill Long

James Longenbach

Gail Mazur

J. D. McClatchy

Heather McHugh

Susan Musgrave

Charles North

Geoffrey O'Brien

Jacqueline Osherow

Molly Peacock

Carl Phillips

Marie Ponsot

Bin Ramke

Katrina Roberts

Michael J. Rosen

Kay Ryan

Mary Jo Salter

Tony Sanders

Stephen Sandy

Grace Schulman

Robyn Selman

Alan Shapiro

Reginald Shepherd

Anglea Sorby

Laurel Trivelpiece

Paul Violi

Arthur Vogelsang

David Wagoner

Charles H. Webb

Ed Webster

David Wojahn

Jay Wright

Stephen Yenser

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Howard's selection of 75 poems for this annual series edited by David Lehman will delight fans of formal traditions but may disappoint readers looking for poetry of socially conscious engagement, L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E-school experimentation or non-white experience. While the works range widely in subject, in style the influence of New Formalism is pervasive?a cerebral tone and Latinate word choice give many poems a self-conscious, overwritten feel. Painful subjects, such as breast cancer, are often buried in obscure references that distance emotional response; even poems drawing from pop culture demonstrate an insular aspect. Where formal constraint combines with authentic voice, we are rewarded with powerful works: the radical brilliance of Molly Peacock, Grace Schulman's intelligent tenderness and David Wojahn's complex insight. J.D. McClatchy addresses mortality with candor and humor in "My Mammogram," and Rafael Campo infuses biting political indictment with personal sorrow in "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." A brief commentary by each of the writers on his/her poem gives a captivating glimpse into the writer's mind and an index lists poems and poets represented in the previous seven volumes of the series.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA?New poetry by contemporary poets, collected from a wide variety of literary journals. The contributors include recognized writers such as Margaret Atwood, Allen Ginsberg, and Molly Peacock. The book ends with contributor's notes that include some biographical information and comments about their poems.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Scribner; Original edition (September 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684801515
• ISBN-13: 978-0684801513
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #420,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars one of the better volumes in this series, June 1, 2003

By 

[e-mail] "[e-mail]" (Beaumont, tx USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Best American Poetry 1995 (Paperback)

In each volume of The Best American Poetry, there are usually a handful of really good or great poems, but on a whole, I find them to disappointing. It's generally not the best American poetry in any given year. Nor is 1995's volume the 'best' but it does have a higher number of good or great poems in it. Richard Howard (1995's guest editor) does a better job than most of the other guest editors I've read. You find poems by Margaret Atwood, Rafael Campo, Ginsberg, Marilyn Hacker, Anthony Hecht, Andrw Hudgins, Kizer, Kumin, Mary Jo Salter, and a great series of poems by Molly Peacock. There is also a wonderful poem by Sally Ball. I wish the series would get back up to this level of quality.

3.0 out of 5 stars somewhat good stuff, August 3, 2003

By 

William D. Tompkins (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best American Poetry 1995 (Paperback)

some of the peotry is ok in this volume but for this most part they are most too conservative and dry. it is the editing here that reflects the personalities it seems of the two editors and simply did not keep my interest.