Selected Poems [Paperback]

Rene Char (Author), Tina Jolas (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

An interesting feature of this book is the number of contributing translators (19, editors included) who are themselves well-known poets or writers: they include Samuel Beckett, William Carlos Williams, and James Wright, to name just three. Another felicitous choice by the editors is the book's bilingual format; each original poem and its translation appear side by side, so that Char's (1907-88) many feelings, moods, and tones are captured in those 99 selected poems. Char's poems have already been translated ( Poems of Rene Char, LJ 6/1/76), but the earlier translation does not include such a chorus of voices. Indeed, the reader will find this latest publication a useful contribution to the understanding of a poet whose artistic voice found its initial expression among the surrealists and whose craft developed into an intensely personal style, various and multiform, fiercely independent yet based on universally human concerns. Recommended for informed readers.
- Danielle Mihram, Univ. of Southern California Lib., Los Angeles
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Language Notes

Text: English, French --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 141 pages
• Publisher: New Directions (April 17, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811211924
• ISBN-13: 978-0811211925
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #726,622 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rare view into a great French poet's oevre, August 10, 2001

By 

Graham James Mummery (Sevenoaks, Kent England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Selected Poems of Rene Char (Hardcover)

Though highly respected by the International Avant Garde, Rene Char's poetry is not as widely available in English translation as it should be. Part of this is probably due to a reputation for obscurity or difficulty. But, as this volume shows this, has been exagerated. There are many poems of amazing simplicity - not to mention beauty. As this selection contains poems from all periods of Char's life one is able to make a full assessment.

Char wrote mainly prose poems and free verse. He had a gift for imagery that is often conveyed lyrically, though this is fractured by occasional violence. Many also have a zen-like simplicity and compression. This is especially so in nature poems such as "the Swift" or "the First Moments" . This violence is often elemental but also revalatory. This makes for an interesting contrast with the English poet, Ted Hughes. Except Char believes that human beings should engage with nature both by being friend and opponent rather than just resigning to it.

Char's vision is essentially that of the great Tao, or the Unknown as he calls it. He sums this up with the phrase "How can we live without the unknown before us?" This also appears in many of his very sensual love/muse poems. As with Graves, connection with women has an almost mystical significance for Char. There is a particularly beautiful prose piece about an encounter with a woman on the Paris Metro. This, to him is confirmation that he is in full connection with reality at that moment. A confirmation of his strong sense of vocation.

The translations are placed along side the French originals. For readers with some French this will help navigate some of Char's difficulties of phrase. For those with no French, the translations are usually good in their own right, some outstanding. Perhaps predictably the best of these are by outstanding poets in their own right such as James Wright, WS Merwin and William Carlos Willaims. But all give a good flavour of the this great poet and none are bad.

This collection is essential for all those curious about Char. A voice with much to say in our time who deserves wider circulation amongst English readers.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Char the Obscure, September 25, 2001

By 

Marcus Nicholas Niko (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Selected Poems (Paperback)

Unfortunately, Rene Char is not as widely known as he should be. It would be insufficient to merely deem him a surrealist or an incarnation of Rimbaud's genius,so it must be known that his world of poetry is slightly beyond any established form or category. His poems combine nature, beauty, and absurdity, to the point where distinctions decline and sentences seemingly tremble with their newfound power. In many lines of his poems, the disorder present in all minds makes its presence known and by some strange beauteous force, what one is resolved to call confusion, Char, creates, or rather uncovers as an inherent recognition.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Restore to them ...", January 8, 2009

By 

Grast Moribund (New York City, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Selected Poems (Paperback)

Few poets possess the vocabulary & intelligence to support their passion. René Char is one of those few. As when faced with the work of Paul Celan, Katie Schaag, Ghérasim Luca or Zbigniew Herbert, I am in awe of the mastery of language & vision ... & the only words that leave my eyelashes are "everything" & "beautiful" ...