The Situation of Poetry [Paperback]

Robert Pinsky (Author)

Book Description

Series: Princeton Essays in Literature | Publication Date: October 1, 1978

"A first-rate piece of work. I can't imagine anyone capable of reading this book and not learning from it."--Hugh Kenner

Editorial Reviews

Review

The mind at work in The Situation of Poetry is lively, fresh, and critical without being obsessed by the rigor of criticism. [Pinsky's] comments are brief, vivid, distinct. . . and his taste is excellent. -- Denis Donoghue, The New York Times Book Review



No one can read Pinsky's writing without being provoked to thought. -- Helen Vendler, The Nation

From the Back Cover

"A first-rate piece of work. I can't imagine anyone capable of reading this book and not learning from it."--Hugh Kenner

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (October 1, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691013527
• ISBN-13: 978-0691013527
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 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: #447,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Neat piece!, April 7, 2004

By 

Lila Hope "lilaetc" (Palo Alto, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Situation of Poetry (Paperback)

Robert Pinsky gave our commencement speech at Stanford in 1999. Captivated by his wit and eloquence I got a copy of this book but promptly misplaced it in a move. Only recently did I have a chance to read it and how satisfying was the experience! Not only did Pinsky help me see some old favorites, such as John Keat's "Ode to a Nightingale", from a distinctively fresh perspective, he also introduced me to other unfamiliar poets whose work I subsequently had the pleasure of reading further. The essays both serve as a comprehensive general survey and contain in-depth analyses of some key pieces. Its style is crisp yet smooth, its language is poetic in its own charm, and the insights are sharp from both literature perspectives and philosophical angles. Great midnight read when "senses abandon their defenses" -- an intellectually stimulating experience that I would highly recommend.