2008
First Published
3.68
Average Rating
353
Number of Pages
A collection of bold, insightful, and controversial essays by “a poetry critic of the very first order” ( New York Times ). Over the last ten years, through essays in The New Republic, The New Yorker, and other magazines, Adam Kirsch―“one of the most promising young poet-critics in America” ( Los Angeles Times )―has established himself among the most controversial and fearless critics writing today. Sure to cause heated debate, this collection of essays surveys the world of contemporary poetry with boldness and insight, whether Kirsch is scrutinizing the reputation of popular poets such as Billy Collins and Sharon Olds or admiring the achievement of writers as different as Derek Walcott, Czeslaw Milosz, and Frederick Seidel. For readers who want an introduction to the complex world of contemporary American poetry, from major figures like Jorie Graham to the most promising poets of the younger generation, Kirsch offers close readings and bold judgments. For readers who already know that world, The Modern Element will offer a surprising and thought-provoking new perspective.
Avg Rating
3.68
Number of Ratings
53
5 STARS
19%
4 STARS
43%
3 STARS
25%
2 STARS
13%
1 STARS
0%
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Author
Adam Kirsch
Author · 15 books
Adam Kirsch is the author of two collections of poems and several books of poetry criticism. A senior editor at the New Republic and a columnist for Tablet, he also writes for The New Yorker and the New York Review of Books. He lives in New York City with his wife and son.
