The Breakage: Poems [Paperback]

Glyn Maxwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 24, 2001

A series of verse letters to the English poet Edward Thomas, killed in the First World War, forms the centerpiece of this remarkable collection. Like most of the poems, it expresses a deep concern for England, past and present. Other poems, whether lyrical or narrative, comic or contemplative, explore love and fatherhood, triumph and longing. Some are adventures from the known to the ineffable; some draw on the poet's travels and his time living in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Like a younger Thom Gunn or Paul Muldoon, U.K. phenom Maxwell (Out of the Rain) is comfortably settled on these shores, issuing this fourth collection from his base camp at Amherst College. Maxwell's extraordinary virtuosity first brought him renown, and it is often on show here, as the close of "Rio Negro": "My cabin window's black as the reply/ Of rivers to the I and its ideas/ Eroding them to barely one, but I/ At least am moving, like the Rio Negro,/ Somewhere coming helplessly to light,/ And even nothing, signing itself zero,/ Is paying homage like a satellite." The book's centerpiece is a set of 11 "Letters to Edward Thomas" ("Dear Edward Thomas, Frost died, I was born.") that pay complex homage to the iconic WWI poet. Anglophiles will revel in Maxwell's phrasing, characters and imageryA"mum's kiss"; "Great-Uncle Albert"; "Mercysiders"; "the business end of Oxford" "Back Gardens in Early Morning," even if they seem intended to invoke the quotidian. Beyond verbal pyrotechnics and the rarity of a born rhymer's ease, however, few readers will find anything particularly compelling or sustaining about most of Maxwell's poems; for all their gallant charm (one poem apologizes for a missed BBC appearence) they risk very little.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"THE BREAKAGE is astonishing in the consistency of control of subject matter and form, and the subtle manipulation of voice. Maxwell has that rare knack of unsettling the givens ... This is his best work." (Observer )

"Glyn Maxwell covers a greater distance in a single line than most people do in a poem. There is an extraordinary propulsion in his work, owing in part to his tendency to draw metaphor from the syntax itself. He is a poet of immense promise and unforgettable delivery." -- Joseph Brodsky

"Glyn Maxwell's originality lies in his astonishing ability to orchestrate asides, parenthetical quips, side-of-the-mouth ruminations into a formal verse with a bravura not dared before. His poems have the vigor and freshness of first drafts, which preserves their immediacy, but they are more finished and rewarding than most contemporary verse." -- Derek Walcott --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; 1 edition (April 24, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618126961
• ISBN-13: 978-0618126965
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,659,861 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book of poetry, April 28, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Breakage: Poems (Paperback)

Glyn Maxwell's The Breakage is an excellent book of poetry in which Maxwell allows the reader into his life. The poems are easy to understand and the subject matter is interesting. My favorite poems in the book include 'The Breakage', June 31st, The Somme', 'Letters to Edward Thomas', and 'Hide and Seek'. Each of these poems is a glimpse into Maxwell's life. They are personal and allow the reader to feel a connection to the speaker. The poet writes about common things like everyday conversations and childhood games, which allow the reader to relate to what is being said.
It is encouraging to know that there is a poet that can still write creatively. One of the best aspects of The Breakage is Maxwell's language. I am taking a poetry class and was becoming concerned that there would be no current poets that I could read. Fortunately my class was assigned Maxwell's The Breakage and I found that I could relate to a poet that is still currently writing poetry. Glyn Maxwell is inspiring because he takes subjects that are common (i.e. an old photograph, a family trip, hide and seek) and makes them interesting and entertaining. The ways that Maxwell approaches subjects are creative and he has an incredible ability to see common things in an uncommon way. One of the best examples of this can be found in his poem "An August Monday". In this poem, the speaker is a child who is embarking on a trip with his family. The poet uses common language which allows the reader to really connect with the speaker. The poem is interesting because the poet looks at the trip from a different view. The child does not see the beauty and excitement that his parents see, but instead is bummed out the entire trip because of the slow moving traffic and other various obstacles that prevent the family from enjoying their picnic plans. The poet's use of humor is helpful in that the boy is so serious about his anger but one can't help but laugh at the "awards" that he creates for people who help to ruin his day. The poet has very accurately depicted the thoughts of the boy, which is one of the things that make the poem so humorous. What the boy thinks is just what any child would think in the same situation. Therefore the humor can be found in that the reader is laughing at themselves in a way, laughing at what they probably thought themselves when in a similar situation as a child.
Maxwell's poetry is inspirational, not because of its deep meaning or highly intellectual subjects, but because it is easy to read and creates a connection with the reader. I enjoyed The Breakage very much and would highly recommend it anyone who is looking for some great new poetry to read. Glyn Maxwell is now one of my favorite poets and it is comforting to know that he is still around to create more poetry for everyone to enjoy.