Collected Earlier Poems of Anthony Hecht: The Complete Texts of The Hard Hours, Millions of Strange Shadows, and The Venetian Vespers

In "Hugh Selwyn Mauberly" Ezra Pound bemoans the degeneration of contemporary poetry: "The 'age demanded' chiefly a mould in plaster, / Made with no loss of time, / A prose kinema, not assuredly, alabaster / Or the sculpture of rhyme . . . . / All things are a flowing, / Sage Heraclitus says: / But a tawdry cheapness / Shall outlast our days." It would be interesting to hear Pound's evaluation of most published "twitter" poetry today, but even he might be lost for words. Hecht, on the other hand, epitomizes classical English language poetry at its best. He is not an easy read, not only because of his mastery of form and language, but also thanks to the sophisticated allusions that permeate this collection. Reading it (with occasional assistance from Wikipedia) is clearly worth the effort.

I only discovered Hecht recently. Now one of my favorite poets.

Book in great shape!!! Thank you.

Contains the complete texts of Millions of Strange Shadows, The Venetian Vespers, and The Hard Hours (for which he won the Pulitzer prize). Hechts poems are formal and savage. You'd be hard pressed to find another poet who can write with such grace and ferocity. From jealous love to the holocaust, Hecht approaches every topic. One of America's greatest, and, unfortunately, lesser known poets.To read more reviews check out Void Magazine's website.

if i had to describe Anthony Hecht in one word, it would be regal. there is no poet who looks more dignified or acts with more dignity. and his poetry is full of grace, dignity, and a quiet power. it is no wonder that hecht is as respected as he is. the poems in this collection are ones to be read slowly, over time, in order to fully digest what makes hecht such a magnificant poet.

Anthony Hecht is Moses coming down from Mount Parnassus with these Collected Earlier Poems as his Ten Commandments on the craft of ARS POETICA. He is perfectly at ease with all the elements of style and leads the reader easily into his world of observed treasures- Venetian Vespers - Cape Cod Lullaby - and for a change of pace, Third Avenue in Sunlight. An absolute master of his craft.

Anthony Hecht's poems are such carefully crafted masterpieces, unfolding beautifully, quietly creeping into the heart. For those who recognize and appreciate the flow of language, the meter of words and syllables. Read "A Letter" and "Sestina d'Inverno." True works of art.

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