Edward Ragg is a poet and literary critic whose work often delves into the intricate relationships between language, abstraction, and perception. His poetry, informed by a deep engagement with literary criticism, explores the aesthetic possibilities of language and how reality is constructed through artistic expression. Ragg's writing is characterized by its precise diction and intellectual depth, frequently engaging with themes found in 20th-century American poetry and the aesthetics of abstraction. His critical and poetic output offers a unique lens through which to understand the interplay of art, philosophy, and sensory experience.
Vital Signs draws on the inspiration of the medical vital signs in three parts-'Body', 'Pulse' and 'Breath'-each with nine poems that explore romantic love, death and the experiences of grief and loss in a poetry that is as embodied, pulsing with life and rhythmically breathing.
A contemplation on love, the many physical and mental geographies we cross, and the vitality of the present moment.
Exploring Rights is exploratory and questioning of our roles and ethical choices, in a poetry that defiantly and playfully confronts `post-truth' culture and the prospects of humankind's survival.
Edward Ragg's debut collection A Force That Takes (2013) was a Cinnamon Press Poetry Award winner. This entrancing second volume probes the complexity of contemporary China, from Beijing to Shanghai through the dizzying landscapes of a country undergoing profound change.
Focusing on philosophical and artistic viewpoints, the book examines Stevens's role in Modernist discussions surrounding literature, painting, and representation. It delves into the interplay between these disciplines, offering insights into how Stevens's work reflects and contributes to broader Modernist themes.