His work is one of the glories of Chinese poetry’s golden age, and it has not ceased to delight readers in the twelve centuries since. Li Po (701–762) wrote of the pleasures of nature, of wine, and of the life of a wandering poet in a way that speaks to us across the centuries with remarkable intimacy—and that special, timeless quality is one of the reasons Li Po became the first of the Chinese poets to gain wide appreciation in the West. His influence is felt in the work of artists as diverse as Ezra Pound and Gustav Mahler. J. P. Seaton’s translations—which include some poems that appear here in English for the first time—bring the poet vividly and playfully to life, and his introductory essay broadens our view of Li Po, both the poet and the man.
Bright Moon, White Clouds: Selected Poems of Li Po
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“J. P. Seaton’s translations of Chinese poetry, his introductions and commentary on the Chinese poets of the ‘Golden Age’ and their work, are a treasure that I have returned to with gratitude ever since I first discovered them.”—W.S. Merwin, author of The Shadow of Sirius, Winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
About the Author
Li Po (701–762) wrote of the pleasures of nature, of wine, and of the life of a wandering poet in a way that speaks to us across the centuries with remarkable intimacy—and that special, timeless quality is one of the reasons Li Po became the first of the Chinese poets to gain wide appreciation in the West. His work is one of the glories of Chinese poetry’s golden age, and it has not ceased to delight readers in the twelve centuries since. His influence is felt in the work of artists as diverse as Ezra Pound and Gustav Mahler. J. P. Seaton’s translations—which include some poems that appear here in English for the first time—bring the poet vividly and playfully to life, and his introductory essay broadens our view of Li Po, both the poet and the man.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Master Revisited
Jun 13 2012
By Anna from InannaWorks
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Moving well beyond a simple collection of translated poetry, J.P. Seaton introduces us to this eighth century poet, putting his work into the context of Chinese life and politics of the time. The extensive background which Mr. Seaton provides, sheds light onto the creative process of one of China's most famous artists. The "Notes to the Poems" at the end of the book take that process a step further, as Mr. Seaton analyzes the poetry and the translation process in great detail.
Mr. Seaton presents Li Po's poetry in five sections: drinking, friendship, philosophy/spirituality, protest, and travel. By focusing the reader's attention in this way, organizing the poetry according to theme and apparent motivation, he is attempting to provide a glimpse of the real Li Po as distinct from the legendary Li Po.
For those who have no interest in the mechanics or history of poetry, Mr. Seaton provides seamless translations of Li Po's work, making it possible for the reader to connect with the genius of the writing directly. On every level, this book is a treasure for any one who values the artistry of the written word.
(InannaWorks.com received a free review copy of this book.)
Mr. Seaton presents Li Po's poetry in five sections: drinking, friendship, philosophy/spirituality, protest, and travel. By focusing the reader's attention in this way, organizing the poetry according to theme and apparent motivation, he is attempting to provide a glimpse of the real Li Po as distinct from the legendary Li Po.
For those who have no interest in the mechanics or history of poetry, Mr. Seaton provides seamless translations of Li Po's work, making it possible for the reader to connect with the genius of the writing directly. On every level, this book is a treasure for any one who values the artistry of the written word.
(InannaWorks.com received a free review copy of this book.)
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
contributive, but not poetic
May 8 2013
By theoxfordfuries
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
There are more lyrical translations of Li Po; if you're looking simply to read moving, intense poetry. The value of this printing for me is in the essay content and the contextualization of the poems in the sub-notes. The poems themselves read clumsily to my ear, and, to me, are inferior to other presentations. Poems that I've long liked, poems that drew me to Li Po in the first place, fall flat here. -- This is of course subjective. But I wouldn't use this edition to judge the quality of Li Po's writing.
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