James Baxter Books
James Keir Baxter was a poet and is a celebrated figure in New Zealand society. His writing drew upon Dylan Thomas and Yeats, and later MacNeice and Lowell. Michael Schmidt's critical study defines Baxter's 'Jacobean consonantal rhetoric' and calls him 'one of the most precocious poets of the century,' whose neglect outside of New Zealand is baffling. Schmidt identifies 'an amalgam of Hopkins, Thomas and native atavisms' in Baxter's work.
Exploring the profound influence of Samuel Beckett on American literature, this work delves into how his themes, narrative techniques, and existential inquiries have shaped contemporary American fiction. It examines the connections between Beckett's innovative style and the works of various American authors, highlighting the interplay of absurdity, isolation, and the human condition. Through critical analysis, the book reveals the lasting impact of Beckett's legacy on both established and emerging writers in the United States.
The poems in The Tree House are light and easy read-alouds for classrooms or with toddlers-on-the-couch. James K Baxter wrote these poems when he was teaching in Lower Hutt in the 1950s. Successful in the classroom, they have been regularly reprinted in anthologies and collections and remain popular for their accessible rhythms, humour, and quintessentially New Zealand settings. This new gift edition of Baxter's poems is illustrated by Kieran Rynhart in dramatic spreads and beautifully drawn details.
