Beginning in 1970, Pearl London taught a course at the New School in New York City called WORKS IN PROGRESS for almost 30 years where she asked famous poets to visit the class with drafts of their new poems. This book is a series of conversations from those classes, transcripts taken from a series of previously unknown recordings found after London’s death and edited by Neubauer. And who showed up at these classes? Maxine Kumin, Robert Hass, Muriel Rukeyser, Philip Levine, Louise Gluck, June Jordan, James Merrill, Marilyn Hacker, Galway Kinnell, Derek Walcott, Amy Clampitt, Lucille Clifton, Stanley Plumly, C. K. Williams, Molly Peacock, Robert Pinsky, Edward Hirsch, Frank Bidart, William Matthews, Paul Muldoon, Li-Young Lee, Charles Simic, and Eamon Grennan. Pearl London asks insightful questions of these poets to tease out the secrets of writing great poetry. If you’re interested in the creative process and how artists achieve their effects, Poetry in Person reveals some of their special secrets. GRADE: A
The Who’s Who of Poetry. Sounds interesting. Nice to mention it for poetry month, too.
These profiles of A-List poets are pretty interesting, Patti. It’s amazing the tapes survived all that time.
This sounds terrific! I’m checking for it at the library in a minute, if not there I’ll get it through inter-loan. Thanks George! Hope you’re enjoying National Poetry Month as much as I am!
Though I won’t post on it, this week I’m re-reading Howl by Ginsberg, something I’ve not read through for three decades. Also on boil is Ghosts of a Chance by John Harvey.
Wow, I have haven’t read HOWL in 40 years, Rick! I wonder if it holds up after all this time…
Thanks much for your description of Poetry in Person and so many key details. If your readers are interested in a short video about the book, I’ve posted one on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEavUABx4II
For National Poetry Month, I’ve also been posting a few of the audio clips from the conversations between Pearl London and the poets on alexanderneubauer.com, if anyone is interested in hearing more of the actual exchanges. (see the blog tab)
Again, thank you.
Alex Neubauer
You edited a wonderful book, Alex! I really enjoyed reading POETRY IN PERSON! I’ll certainly check out the YouTube video.
How cool that the editor came to say “thanks”! I’ll be checking out the Utube..
Yes, it was nice of Alex to drop in, Rick. Just like Steven did on your blog!
Only the coolest people drop by this site.
You are one of the coolest, Drongo!
Thanks George, that was a kind thing to say, but if you knew me, you wouldn’t let your daughter date me…
Fortunately, this is a blog and not a dating site, Drongo.