Katha Pollitt: Why People Should Read Poetry, and Why They Don't

WHAT THE POETS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM:

“At the center of every poem lurks the poet, but Katha Pollitt balances the self-regard of the craft with a fervent interest in the profusion of the world–knickknacks, summer bungalows, dogs, bees, lilacs, mandarin oranges, and more. And her clear, observant eye brings it all into steady focus. This is one long-awaited volume that was well worth the wait.”—Billy Collins, former United States Poet Laureate

“It’s awfully good to have such a great-hearted poet as Katha Pollitt take on mortality’s darkest themes. Again and again she finds a human-sized crack of light and squeezes us through with her.”—Kay Ryan, United States Poet Laureate

“So much has happened to the world since Katha Pollitt published her debut collection, Antarctic Traveller, in 1982, yet what has happened to her poetry is a fascinating progress of distinction, of steadying insight, and of meditative enrichment. Poems like ‘Night Subway’ and ‘Trying to Write a Poem Against the War’ show an undaunted consciousness of this daunting quarter century, but Pollitt’s most surprising gift, to be savored only now in poem after poem, is the proof that primaveral raptures were literally premature, that our high middle ages are worth all they cost, that life’s truest poetry is in the second half.”—Richard Howard, winner of the Pulitzer Prize

Award-winning columnist,
The Nation magazine

Buy Pollitt’s NEWEST COLLECTION OF POETRY, THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM.
Order Learning to Drive: And Other Life Stories, a collection of personal essays.
Read and add your signature to An Open Letter From American Feminists
Read Pollitt's bio and "Subject to Debate" column archive
Read Pollitt's Nation blog, And Another Thing

Is your book group reading Learning to Drive? The author can arrange to speak with your group and answer questions about the book by phone, via email, or (in or near New York City) in person. To arrange a conversation, please send an e-mail containing the details of your meeting. One reviewer has a few good questions to get you started.

Have a comment or question? Contact Katha Pollitt.

Katha Pollitt

7/02/2009

Why People Should Read Poetry, and Why They Don't

THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM

WHAT THE POETS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM:

Books by Katha Pollitt

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