Written In Water: The Collected Prose Poems [Paperback]

Luis Cernuda (Author), Stephen Kessler (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2004

While Cernuda’s verse is vivid testimony to various aspects of his biographical itinerary, it is in his prose poems that he traces more explicitly an outline of his life’s journey. Reviewing this work, Octavio Paz wrote: “In these memories and landscapes, in these notes toward the history of his sensibility, there is great objectivity; the poet doesn’t set out to fantasize, or to lie to himself or anyone else. He attempts only to illuminate, with an almost impersonal light, something very personal: a few moments in his life. But is it truly ours, this life we live?”

Luis Cernuda (1902–1963) was one of the leading poets of Spain’s Generation of 1927, which included Federico García Lorca, Rafael Alberti and Jorge Guillén.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Luis Cernuda (1902-1963) was one of the leading poets of Spain's Generation of 1927, which included Federico Garcia Lorca, Rafael Alberti, and Jorge Guillén.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: City Lights Publishers (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872864316
• ISBN-13: 978-0872864313
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,014,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inexhaustible good company, November 4, 2006

By 

Guttersnipe Das "Guttersnipe Das" (Santiago, Chile) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Written In Water: The Collected Prose Poems (Paperback)

Luis Cernuda, Written on Water: The Prose Poems of Luis Cernuda, translated by Stephen Kessler, City Lights Books, 2004

This book is on my short list of books that deserve to be famous. It will never be famous. I will go on trumpeting it anyway.

This book combines both of Cernuda's books of prose poems. Like a drinking buddy, at first it seemed a little cranky and maudlin, but it has turned out to be inexhaustible. Somehow Cernuda knows exactly how emotion feels in the body, how grief sinks and sensuality caresses. It is a very humble and generous book--as if he has saved all that was good and vibrant in his life and now he's giving it all away. When life in Tokyo feels like bitter exile, this is the book to which I turn for company.

The warm and nimble translation is by Stephen Kessler, who certainly deserves a kiss from everyone.

from Wasting Time:

"The breeze of the tropical night rests on your skin, refreshing it. You feel yourself floating, light, insubstantial. Your senses alone are alert, and with them your body; but it's a relaxed alertness, without the usual intrusions desiring and demanding. And while you, who've known that body forever, may be a bit suspicious of its calm, it claims that one kiss tonight would be enough to make it happy."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'll Second That, January 5, 2009

By 

Mark Eisner (Northern California and Southern Chile) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Written In Water: The Collected Prose Poems (Paperback)

That it's a beautiful read. Cernuda is definitely too over-looked. He was one of the best poets of the Generation of '27. Kessler's translations are fluid and precise, balancing both the poetic and literal translations so well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Reading, September 6, 2008

By 

Yerema Wisniowiecki "mlawirso" (Fargo, ND United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Written In Water: The Collected Prose Poems (Paperback)

I truly loved this book of lyrical prose poems; wonderful translation as well. Cernuda deserves more recognition, no doubt about it. It is difficult to believe that he remains rather unknown. This book will always remain precious to me.