Eleanor Cook Books

Wallace Stevens stands out as a major yet challenging twentieth-century poet, known for his dazzling verbal brilliance and rich imagery. His works feature unexpected elements, such as a singing jackrabbit and the character Nanzia Nunzio, blending wit with a lawyer's logic. Addressing contemporary concerns, his poetry captivates a growing readership, though many find its complexity baffling. Stevens' unique style continues to intrigue and inspire readers, inviting deeper exploration into his thought-provoking verses.

Exploring the mechanics of enigmas and riddles in literature, this study delves into their significance and function across various texts. It examines how these narrative devices engage readers, provoke thought, and enhance storytelling. By analyzing diverse literary works, the book reveals the intricate ways in which puzzles and mysteries contribute to deeper themes and character development, offering fresh insights into the art of literature.

Eleanor Cook's study delves into Wallace Stevens's intricate use of language, exploring his manipulation of grammar, etymology, and allusion. The book offers a comprehensive analysis of Stevens's poetry, tracing his development from early to late works, including detailed examinations of three significant long poems. This chronological approach highlights Stevens's evolving mastery and thematic focus on the poetry of place, eros, and belief, providing readers with insights into his innovative poetic methods and philosophical explorations.

Critics and biographers praise Elizabeth Bishop's poetry but have little to say about how it does its sublime work in the ear and in the mind's eye. Eleanor Cook examines in detail Bishop's diction, syntax, rhythm, and meter, her acute sense of place, and her attention to the natural world. Writers, readers, and teachers will all benefit.