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Fifty-six far-ranging poems by the brilliant and beloved poet, most of which have never before been published.Richard Howard’s sixteenth book of poems contains work that was either never published, or not collected in book form. The unpublished poems are largely early. These turned up in his papers after his death in 2022. We’ll never know why he elected not to include them in either of his first two books,
Quantities (1962) and
Damages (1967). For example, there is a very moving poem on the death of a longtime friend’s dog. Included, as well, are a few fragments from that time.
The uncollected poems are largely late. They are primarily poems that were sent out into the world but that he felt did not quite belong in books that generally had a particular organizing principle. Some of these are occasional works written for a specific event like an art exhibition or literary happening. Some take on a current political situation such as the war in Iraq. Additionally, there is an adaptation of Horace, and a short piece about John Ashbery. All in all, there are some real surprises that the Richard Howard completist, the newcomer, and those in between will not want to miss.
About the author
Richard Howard (1929-2022) hold a distinguished place in contemporary American literature for his work as a poet, translator, critic, and educator.
