Description
Peter Robinson's third book of literary criticism presents a sequence of chapters exploring ways that selves and situations interact and become imaginatively identified with each other in poems. Readings of works by Ezra Pound, Basil Bunting, Louis MacNeice, W. S. Graham, Elizabeth Bishop, Allen Curnow, Charles Tomlinson, Mairi MacInnes, Tom Raworth, and Roy Fisher share an interest in how poems can be both attached to, and detached from, the culture, society, and conditions in which they were written. These studies draw out and underline both the ubiquity and elusiveness of the self in the situation of the text. The poems studied here are also discussed as focal points for relations between readerly and writerly selves and their situations in and over time.
Reviews
immensely stimulating...The sure style, the engaging use of detail, and the humility of the critic made it all interesting, informative, and intruiging throughout. * Philip Tew, Modern Languages Review, vol 102, part 1 *
Robinson has been a generous promoter of contemporary poetry for decades, and this collection of essays bears witness to his dedication and energy. He writes with an unformulaic enthusiasm, moving easily from biographical, political and poetic context to the nitty-gritty of close reading, while also striking an easy, readable tone. * Angela Leighton, TLS *
Twentieth Century Poetry is a book which dares to tackle the difficult topic of the relationship of poetry and politics; it does so, mostly, with a light touch which lets the poetry speak for itself...Peter Robinson is to be credited with listening attentively and knowledgeably to poetry, and his engagement with lesser-known, even unjustly neglected writers is especially welcome. * Angela Leighton, TLS *
Book Information
ISBN 9780199273256
Author Peter Robinson
Format Hardback
Page Count 304
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 480g
Dimensions(mm) 223mm * 146mm * 21mm
Reviews
immensely stimulating...The sure style, the engaging use of detail, and the humility of the critic made it all interesting, informative, and intruiging throughout. * Philip Tew, Modern Languages Review, vol 102, part 1 *
Robinson has been a generous promoter of contemporary poetry for decades, and this collection of essays bears witness to his dedication and energy. He writes with an unformulaic enthusiasm, moving easily from biographical, political and poetic context to the nitty-gritty of close reading, while also striking an easy, readable tone. * Angela Leighton, TLS *
Twentieth Century Poetry is a book which dares to tackle the difficult topic of the relationship of poetry and politics; it does so, mostly, with a light touch which lets the poetry speak for itself...Peter Robinson is to be credited with listening attentively and knowledgeably to poetry, and his engagement with lesser-known, even unjustly neglected writers is especially welcome. * Angela Leighton, TLS *
Book Information
ISBN 9780199273256
Author Peter Robinson
Format Hardback
Page Count 304
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 480g
Dimensions(mm) 223mm * 146mm * 21mm
