Three Books: Body Rags/ Mortal Acts Mortal Words/The Past [Paperback]

Galway Kinnell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 1993

These three books--Body Rags, Mortal Acts, Mortal Words, and The Past--are central to the life's work of one of the masters of contemporary poetry. Published here in one volume, they include many of Galway Kinnell's best loved and most anthologized poems. In a note, Galway Kinnell comments on the numerous revisions he has made to many of the poems for this edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The reissue of three books from the wide-ranging Kinnell, published in 1968, 1989, and 1985, respectively. Add to his two classics: The Book of Nightmares (1973) and The Avenue Bearing the Initial of Christ into the New World (1974).
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Galway Kinnell is a former MacArthur Fellow and has been state poet of Vermont. In 1982 his Selected Poems won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. For many years he was the Erich Maria Remarque Professor of Creative Writing at New York University. He is currently a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. For thirty-five years--from WHAT A KINGDOM IT WAS to THE BOOK OF NIGHTMARES to THREEE BOOKS--Galway Kinnell has been enriching American poetry, not only by his poems but also by his teaching and his powerful public readings.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books (October 25, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395680883
• ISBN-13: 978-0395680889
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,468,719 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:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth it for "The Past", August 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Three Books: Body Rags/ Mortal Acts Mortal Words/The Past (Paperback)

With all respect to "TTaylor" in the other review, "The Past" is hardly an earlier work, as Kinnell was near 60 when he wrote it. I am not sure these books belong together, but I believe "The Past" to be at least as good as Kinnell's most famous book, "The Book of Nightmares." I also think, like the latter, it's his most consistent book. And, in my opinion, it is a mature work. His work since has been mixed with occasional masterpieces, which is quite allowable for a poet (not every poem must be a masterpiece). Still, I enjoy the consistency of "The Past" over the 90's poems which so often seem to be following Sharon Olds' prosaic confessionalism too closely. In any case, do not limit yourself to "Nightmares" or "Selected Poetry." This book is one of the finest in late 20th century American poetry.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, thought-provoking poetry, December 29, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Kirksville, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Three Books: Body Rags/ Mortal Acts Mortal Words/The Past (Paperback)

Galway Kinnell's poetry exudes the confidence of a master poet and his words drip with meaning. These are poems which you can sink your teeth into, reveling in their introspection and beauty. Kinnell is one of the most influential poets of this generation and continues to produce a substantial bulk of work. As a wannabe poet myself, I read the poetry in a very envious manner. The ability to produce images and meaning in the way Kinnell does, denotes a certain amount of power I hope to possess. The 3 books in question are earlier works which established Mr. Kinnell as a "well-known" poet. The compilation effectively showcases the breadth and depth of his power. You will not be disappointed with this work.