Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Appropriate Title: Excellent Collection, April 8 2003
This brief collection of poetry by the former Carmel, CA resident Robinson Jeffers contains some of his strongest lyrical work. Although suited for an introductory course on poetry, I'm not sure why the publishers (Stanford UP) would think that this volume ... is a better deal than the other recent Stanford UP volume, The Collected Poetry, which includes some of Jeffers's prose (Prefaces/Letters) and is more comprehensive ... This is a slim volume--about the size of Hass's previous collection (Rock and Hawk, now out-of-print). But it is vastly superior in text and style to The Selected Poems (thin book, red and blue cover, ...). I highly recommend this text. It contains the "Best Of" Jeffers's poetic gems, such as "Shine, Perishing Republic," (apropos for our current times), and "For Una," to name a couple. Jeffers was an amazing American poet. For once I disagree with Vendler's estimation of his poetic merits and craft. I would recommend Jeffers to a reader in the same spirit that Hass, C. Milosz, Wm. Everson, and Bukowski recommended that we listen to his prophetic voice. Jeffers's work embodies the Carmel landscape and cosmic essence of Northern California. Yet his voice is universal and resounds with tragic wisdom. I also recommend Hass, Milosz, Everson, H. Miller, and the academic treatments of Jeffers's work by Robert Brophy.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
44 of 46 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Appropriate Title: Excellent Collection, April 8 2003
By Flounder - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Wild God of the World: An Anthology of Robinson Jeffers (Paperback)
This brief collection of poetry by the former Carmel, CA resident Robinson Jeffers contains some of his strongest lyrical work. Although suited for an introductory course on poetry, I'm not sure why the publishers (Stanford UP) would think that this volume ... is a better deal than the other recent Stanford UP volume, The Collected Poetry, which includes some of Jeffers's prose (Prefaces/Letters) and is more comprehensive ... This is a slim volume--about the size of Hass's previous collection (Rock and Hawk, now out-of-print). But it is vastly superior in text and style to The Selected Poems (thin book, red and blue cover, ...). I highly recommend this text. It contains the "Best Of" Jeffers's poetic gems, such as "Shine, Perishing Republic," (apropos for our current times), and "For Una," to name a couple. Jeffers was an amazing American poet. For once I disagree with Vendler's estimation of his poetic merits and craft. I would recommend Jeffers to a reader in the same spirit that Hass, C. Milosz, Wm. Everson, and Bukowski recommended that we listen to his prophetic voice. Jeffers's work embodies the Carmel landscape and cosmic essence of Northern California. Yet his voice is universal and resounds with tragic wisdom. I also recommend Hass, Milosz, Everson, H. Miller, and the academic treatments of Jeffers's work by Robert Brophy.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing selection ..., Feb 7 2011
By A reader in Louisiana - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Wild God of the World: An Anthology of Robinson Jeffers (Paperback)
A disappointing selection of an indispensable poet. But head and shoulders over the old Vintage paperback--except for one omission: "Roan Stallion," one of the great poems of the Modern Age (found in the Vintage but not in this). And I cannot understand Gelpi's failure to include poems from DESCENT TO THE DEAD. Anyhow, if this selection enjoys another printing, perhaps Gelpi can correct, in his excellent introduction, the mislocation of Jung's house: not on Lake Geneva but on Lake Zurich.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bleak, cold and beautiful, Oct 19 2009
By Tom M - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Wild God of the World: An Anthology of Robinson Jeffers (Paperback)
Jeffers somehow captures the spirit of the California coast at night. Its actually somewhat disturbingly cosmic, not in the hippy sense, but in the Greek sense: immense, infinite and terrifying. No wonder Jeffers' appeal is limited. I love him.
|
|
|