Robert Lowell is one of the most widely recognised and influential poets of the second half of this century. Yet his career is problematical and raises many questions about direction and quality, particularly in light of his repeated reorientation of thematic concern and poetic technique. Many previous studies of the poet have accounted for these radical differences in Lowell's work by examining the poet's private life, but this collection of essays attempts to reassess Lowell's poetry and to restimulate critical thinking about it by focusing on his texts to raise new questions and discussions about the work. The twelve essays in this volume, by many of the most distinguished scholars in the field, offer a chronological review of Robert Lowell's career as a poet. The book includes pieces on major works such as Lord Weary's Castle, Life Studies, For the Union Dead, 'Skunk Hour', Notebook, the sonnets of 1969-73 as well as four essays devoted to Lowell's last complete and often neglected work, Day by Day. Employing a variety of methodologies, the essays arrive at innovative and, often, controversial interpretations of Lowell's poems.
Reviews
'Of all the books and collections devoted to Lowell's work, this is perhaps the strongest defense and one coming from a more than usually varied set of critical perspectives.' Choice
'The collection of essays on Robert Lowell by Steven Gould Axelrod and Helen Deese attempts to shift the emphasis from Lowell's biography - his private life - back to his poetry ... they do so with great success; the level of competence among the critics is high, and the essays appeal to a broad range of interests ... an excellent volume.' The Sewanee Review



Book Information
ISBN 9780521378031
Author Steven Axelrod
Format Paperback
Page Count 284
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 420g
Dimensions(mm) 226mm * 150mm * 20mm