Customer Reviews

Postmodern American Poetry: A Norton Anthology

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For anyone interested in postmodern poetry or for those who want to learn what postmodern poetry is, this is the anthology to have. It's loaded with some of the best poets: the gifted Robert Duncan, Ferlinghettis (one of the best of the beat poets), Bukowski (my first intro to him, and not a dissapointment), Levertov, Kenneth Koch (not his best poems, but still a good selection), the wonderful poetry of Frank O'Hara, Ginsberg, Robert Creely (and excellent selection), a selection from Ashbery so huge that i almost forgot i wasn't reading one of his books, the awesome Gary Snyder, Rothernberg's "Cokboy", Dave Trinidad, Paul Hoover, Wanda Coleman, Charles Olson, Kerouac, Philip Whalen, Corso, Amiri Baraka, Diane di Prima, Anne Waldman, and many others, including a very strong Chicago appearance towards the end.

The anthology starts with an essay by Hoover, which helps to clear up many questions about what postmodern poetry is and what many of the schools are. He concludes the anthology with a selection of essays on poetry.

First off, I was delighted to see a blurb on the back by my favorite poet critic Sven Birketts. In and off itself, his willingness to say "...the first antology to capture the scope of the underlying event" meant a lot to me. And the book surely does that (111 poems by 103 poets) along with a 14 page intro that explains and defines Postmodern in terms of it's incipience and in terms of its classification among other genres of poetry, stressing more than anything else its use of every day speech patterns and an overall veering away from from formalism of anykind. I see it as a one of a kind book, and felt I'd gotten exactly what I'd paid for, which was a used copy that arrived in excellent shape from one of Amazon's sellers.Forces in Modern and Postmodern Poetry (Studies in Modern Poetry)

Wow! If you're well read, this book is for you. It makes me wish I actually were alive when these people wrote. It is somewhat culturally biased, but I could easily excuse it as just being specific. There is a lot of name droppings in these artful poems, so if you're not used to it, beware! A lot of the poems are spaced out (physically) thoughtfully. This is a book for the thinkers and aspiring poets. Most of these poems were written in the 1950s, as the editors say. Gregory Corso is a highlight, as well as Ginsberg and some of the female writers. This book is long and well worth the price (or a visit to your local library). I am a struggling working class college student, but I'd easily pay $100 for this underrated gem. These are highly personal in nature, but people who like to imagine things would love this book. These inspiring personal reflections are artfully defiant, it will for sure paint a picture in your mind.

Happy reading!

Your all-American community college Vale-D.

For some reason, the reviews for the anthology itself are posted here, instead of reviews of just the Classroom Guide. Maybe this review will also end up with the reviews of the anthology, but it doesn't belong there.

As many observe, the anthology itself is great. However, I don't think much of the Classroom Guide, and I was disappointed by its content. I'm not an instructor, and I didn't buy this book to help me teach the subject. I had hoped it would provide additional insight into the separate poems and poets, and actually provide some "inside" information or ideas that would help me go deeper into the poems, but it really is just a bunch of questions that an instructor could have students answer, think about, or write about, related to each poet's work that appears in the anthology. Call me a dummy, but I want to read a question, think about it, and then see an informed answer or discussion of it.

But questions do not a guide make. Unless the guide itself is the author's contribution to the canon of postmodern poetry. Then I would have to reconsider. Or would I?

A deeply informative and devoted anthology, containing some of the best poetry written in America. The detailed author biographies and extensive sections on poetics are a delight, such a rarity! The rich and powerful voices of postmodern American poets -- be they from any cultural background -- can be found here. An anthology that has become my inspiration in many ways -- to read it is to feel inspired to write, as well. Paul Hoover's selection is impeccable, and uplifting.

To date the best anthology I have on the subject.

If you're serious about poetry - you need this book.
If you stopped reading before the Postmoderns - you need this book.
If you want to get serious about poetry - you need this book.
If you think you've read it all on the Postmoderns - you need this book.

This book has practically become my bible for poetry. It is inspirational to any writer who is interested in looking beyond the typical format of poetry. It allows conformists to open their eyes to a completely new and original world.

As a writter this book opens up many diffrent forms of writting styles to experiment with. This is my favortie poetry book and it is filled with poems for what ever mood you may be in. Anyone that loves poetry or loves to read should own a copy of this book.