May Swenson Books

Celebrating May Swenson's centenary, this comprehensive collection features all her published poems, from her debut in 1954 to her last work in 1987, along with previously uncollected pieces. The anthology showcases her diverse interests, including nature, love, travel, and unique analyses of various subjects like baseball and the moon landing. Swenson's tendency to revise her work is acknowledged, with the collection providing her definitive versions while maintaining the original publication order. Detailed notes highlight textual variants and title changes.

The collection features May Swenson's complete love poems, showcasing her unique ability to convey kindness, sensuousness, and gentle affection. Renowned for their tenderness and understated quality, these poems reflect intimate human connections. This anthology draws from both published works and unpublished manuscripts, offering readers a personal insight into the artistry of a celebrated twentieth-century American poet, recognized for her remarkable talent and emotional depth.

The collection delves into the intricate dynamics of a relationship between two contrasting poets, highlighting their unique perspectives and emotional complexities. Through their interactions, readers gain insight into the challenges and nuances of their bond, making it a compelling exploration of creativity and connection.

In Spoon River Anthology, the American poet Edgar Lee Masters (1869–1950) created a series of compelling free-verse monologues in which former citizens of a mythical Midwestern town speak touchingly from the grave of the thwarted hopes and dream of their lives. First published in book form in 1915, the Anthology was the crowning achievement of Masters' career as a poet, and a work that would become a landmark of 20th-century American literature. In these pages, no less than 214 individual voices are heard — some in no more than a dozen moving lines. Alternately plaintive, anguished, enigmatic, angry, and contemptuous, the voices of Spoon River, although distinctively small-town Americans, evoke themes of love and hope, disappointment and despair that are universal in their resonance. This American classic is reprinted here from the authoritative 1915 edition.