“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Julian Symons, first published 42 years ago, remains the best biography of Edgar Allan Poe.
Paul Brookes – A Poetry Champion Who Writes Poetry
Paul Brookes not only writes poetry; he is also a champion for poetry, recognizing and celebrating poets worldwide.
Remembering and Honoring a Father: Laurence Fuller and “Modern Art”
“Modern Art,” a screenplay by Laurence Fuller, tells the story of his father, British art critic, writer, and author Peter Fuller.
Taking a Scottish Road Trip with Jorge Luis Borges
What was supposed to be an “author-sitting” stint turned into a Scotland road trip for a young grad student and Jorge Luis Borges.
“30 Poems to Memorize (Before It’s Too Late)” by David Kern
In “30 Poems to Memorize (Before It’s Too Late),” editor David Kern and 13 other contributors remind us of why we love poetry.
Poets and Poems: John Balaban and “Empires”
“Empires” by poet John Balaban mines both human and personal history poetically to ask what creates the idea of the common good.
Words, Music, Voice: Justin Hamm and “Federico Garcia Lorca Blues”
The album “Federico Garcia Lorca Blues” by Justin Hamm combines poetry, music, and voice to create an almost perfect poetic experience.
Poets and Poems: Jane Kenyon and “Best Poems”
“The Best Poems of Jane Kenyon” provides a wonderful introduction to the full range of her accomplishments as a poet.
Poets and Poems: Luci Shaw and “The Generosity”
“The Generosity” by Luci Shaw invites us to consider the eternal in nature, in the life around us, and in our own families.
“Cross of Snow: A Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow by Nicholas Basbanes
“Cross of Snow” examines the lives of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his wife Frances (“Fanny”), noting her significant contributions to his work.
Poetry and Healing: “Waiting for Neruda’s Memoirs” by Laura Boggess
The novella “Waiting for Neruda’s Memoirs” by Laura Boggess tells a story of a woman haunted by voices and healed through the power of poetry.
Poets and Poems: Paul Mariani and “Ordinary Time”
“Ordinary Time” by poet Paul Mariani reminds us of the small and almost forgotten things that make a life, and make a life sacred.
Poets and Poems: Jessica De Guyat and “Fording the Stream”
The poetry collection “Fording the Stream” by British poet Jessica De Guyat is centered in the idea of place, be it Lindisfarne, Iona, or the French Midi.
Poets and Poems: Maurice Manning and “Railsplitter”
In “Railsplitting,” poet Maurice Manning crawls inside the head of Abraham Lincoln, recalling and imagining his life, struggles, and legacy.
Forgotten Classics: “Shakespeare of London” by Marchette Chute
“Shakespeare of London” by Marchette Chute, long out of print, remains one of the best literary biographies of the playwright that we have.
Poets and Poems: Major Jackson and “Holding Company”
The 2010 collection “Holding Company” by Major Jackson leads the eye and mind to a different understanding and a different context.
Poetry as a Way of Ordering Experience: “The Music of Time” by John Burnside
Poetry can be a way to bring meaning and order to one’s life, writes John Burnside in “The Music of Time: Poetry in the Twentieth Century.”
Rethinking the Role of the Poet: Essays by Micah Mattix
“The Soul Is a Stranger in This World” by Micah Mattix takes a refreshing look at familiar contemporary poets—and at the role of poetry itself.
It Was a Marvelous Year: “The Making of Poetry” by Adam Nicholson
In “The Making of Poetry,” Adam Nicolson tells the story of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1797-98, when they created some of the greatest poetry written in the English language.
Poets and Poems: S.R. Jakobi and “Antiques & Curios”
The 96 poems of “Antiques & Curios” by S.R. Jakobi tell the story of a love affair between an older man and younger woman, one that continues in memory.