From Library Journal
Starting with the assumption that "the work of the poets born mid-century announce a diasporic rather than lineal legacy," Marshall (Gonzaga Univ.) compiled these interviews with a selection of U.S. poets born between 1941 and 1959. Based in the Northwest, he takes a particular perspective; all but one of the poets in the collection teach, and almost all were born west of the Mississippi. Despite his thoroughly modern premise, Marshall does ask about lineal legacies and American literary history, but most of his questions focus on poetic sensibility and political inclusion. The resulting exchanges are more casually cerebral than personal or profound. The nice thing about the alphabetical arrangement is that it gives the final word to one of Robert Wrigley's observations: "All the stuff about factions, about prizes, about poetry's role in culture seems to me to be distractions from that essential relationship between the poet and the language and the language's ability to plumb the human enterprise." The Range of the Possible is pleasant enough reading; it does have some range, and Wrigley is right. Though the book is in no way couched as a regional survey, it is recommended for libraries where there is interest in contemporary American poets emerging from the West or a need to balance the collection. Scott Hightower, Fordham Univ., New York CityCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Marshall perspicaciously identifies a distinct generation of American poets who, born between 1941 and 1959, came of age and came to poetry in a world dramatically transformed by nuclear weapons, the civil rights movement, environmental devastation, technological proliferation, rampant consumerism, Third World warfare, and overpopulation. They also began writing in the blaze of modernity and, for most, within the web of academia. Curious about how this generation views poetry as a craft and a practice, who their influences are, and how they work, Marshall conducted interviews with 20 diverse, immensely talented poets who have powerful feelings about artistic diversity and passion, the unbreakable connection between reading and writing poetry, and devotion to vision and form. Each conversation--from learned discussions with such intense poet-scholars as Robert Hass and Edward Hirsch to the mystical perceptions of Li-Young Lee to Linda Bierds' interest in writing about lives other than her own to Yusef Komunyakaa's connection to place--deepens the reader's appreciation for all the knowledge, emotion, and conviction that make poetry the wonder, pleasure, and solace it is. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
These penetrating conversations with poets explore not only the landscape of contemporary poetry but the esthetic, political, and spiritual textures of America and the world as expressed in language. This varied gathering of poets ranges from a former United States Laureate and winners of many of America's most prestigious literary prizes to lesser known yet equally accomplished writers. Interesting and compelling for both the poetry enthusiast and the general interest reader, this gathering of voices offers a stimulating, informative and profoundly moving poets-eye view of contemporary art and life. Among the twenty participating poets are Robert Hass, Linda Bierds, Ed Hirsch, Dorianne Laux, Yusef Komunyakaa, Gillian Conoley, Li-Young Lee, Lucia Perillo, Robert Wrigley, Dave Smith, and David St. John.

About the Author
Tod Marshall's interviews, essays, and poetry have been widely published. He received his M.F.A. degree from Eastern Washington University and his Ph.D. from The University of Kansas. He lives in Spokane, Washington, and teaches at Gonzaga University.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

These penetrating conversations with poets explore not only the landscape of contemporary poetry but the aesthetic, political, and spiritual textures of America and the world as expressed in language.

This varied gathering ranges from a former United States Poet Laureate and winners of many of America￯﾿ﾽs most prestigious literary prizes to lesser-known yet equally accomplished writers. Among the 20 participating poets are Robert Hass, Linda Bierds, Ed Hirsch, Dorianne Laux, Yusef Komunyakaa, Gillian Conoley, Li-Young Lee, Lucia Perillo, Robert Wrigley, Dave Smith, and David St. John. Interesting and compelling, these voices offers a stimulating, informative, and profoundly moving poet's-eye-view of contemporary art and life.

About the Author:Tod Marshall￯﾿ﾽs interviews, essays, and poetry have been widely published. He lives in Spokane, Washington, and teaches at Gonzaga University.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

Starting with the assumption that "the work of the poets born mid-century announce a diasporic rather than lineal legacy," Marshall (Gonzaga Univ.) compiled these interviews with a selection of U.S. poets born between 1941 and 1959. Based in the Northwest, he takes a particular perspective; all but one of the poets in the collection teach, and almost all were born west of the Mississippi. Despite his thoroughly modern premise, Marshall does ask about lineal legacies and American literary history, but most of his questions focus on poetic sensibility and political inclusion. The resulting exchanges are more casually cerebral than personal or profound. The nice thing about the alphabetical arrangement is that it gives the final word to one of Robert Wrigley's observations: "All the stuff about factions, about prizes, about poetry's role in culture seems to me to be distractions from that essential relationship between the poet and the language and the language's ability to plumb the human enterprise." The Range of the Possible is pleasant enough reading; it does have some range, and Wrigley is right. Though the book is in no way couched as a regional survey, it is recommended for libraries where there is interest in contemporary American poets emerging from the West or a need to balance the collection. Scott Hightower, Fordham Univ., New York City Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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