The Poet's Work: An Introduction to Czeslaw Milosz [Paperback]

Leonard Nathan (Author), Arthur Quinn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1991

Born in the early years of the 20th century, in Lithuania, Czeslaw Milosz, a self-described "connoisseur of heavens and abysses" has produced a corpus of poems, essays, memoirs, and fiction of great depth and range. In "The Poet's Work" Leonard Nathan and Arthur Quinn follow Milosz's wanderings in exile from Poland to Paris to Berkeley as they chart the development of his art. They relate his life and his works to the unfolding of his thought. "The Poet's Work" is not only an introduction to Milosz; it is also a record of the poet's own interpretations of his work. As colleagues of Milosz at Berkeley, Nathan and Quinn had long, detailed discussions with the poet. Nathan and Quinn reveal why Milosz is a true visionary, a poet of ideas in history, and they show how the influence of Blake, Simone Weil, Dostoevsky, Lev Shestov, and Swedenborg, together with Henry Miller, Allen Ginsberg, and Robinson Jeffers, has enriched his vision. Milosz's lifelong experience of totalitarian regimes that exalt science and technology over individual needs and aspirations, his sense of alienation as an emigre, and his humanistic zeal and belief in the primacy of living have brought a prismatic quality to his poetry. "The Poet's Work" is an introduction to Milosz that should inform and engage both scholars and general readers.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Insights on the work of Polish emigre and Nobel prize-winner Milosz are presented here by two of Milosz's Berkeley colleagues. Their close association with Milosz has produced a unique work that combines the authors' criticisms with Milosz's own interpretations of his work. Many diverse influences on Milosz are examined here: his emigre status, the Berkeley student protests, and numerous authors from Dostoevsky to Allen Ginsberg. An excellent introduction to Milosz's work that will be appreciated by scholars. Recommended for all libraries where Milosz is read.
- Ruth M. Ross, Olympic Coll. Lib., Bremerton, Wash.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press; First Edition edition (October 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674689704
• ISBN-13: 978-0674689701
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,886,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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