Each chapter should be written with the personality of the poet that is its subject.
Koch's excitable exuberance.
Rothenberg's mixture of unapologetic romanticism and critical sophistication
Spicer's alienation
O'Hara's negotations between gregariousness and introspection...
etc...
With the personality or in conversation with the personality?
ResponderEliminarOf critical studies written with the personality of the subject I like In the American Grain, Studies in Classic American Literature, Call Me Ishmael, My Emily Dickinson...
Why not.
Both, but I'd really like to do it with the personality informing my actual writing. In a subtle not a mannered way. Even if only I know that this is what I'm doing, I would be happy with that effect.
ResponderEliminarOld trick, it seems to this old dog. What would really set gouty tail athump these here arthritic hips is "Koch" struggling to do justice to Rothenberg, "Spicer" translating O'Hara, vice-versa and so on.... (But I'm a pastiche roué who's maybe read too much Joyce and Nabokov industry product.)
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