Frame Structures: Early Poems 1974-1979

by Susan Howe

Gathered here are versions of Hinge Picture (1974), Chanting at the Crystal Sea (1975), Cabbage Gardens (1979), and Secret History of the Dividing Line (1978) that differ in some respects from their original small-press editions. In a long preface, "Frame Structures," written especially for this volume, Howe suggests the autobiographical, familial, literary, and historical motifs that suffuse these early works. Taken together, the preface and poems...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811213226
• ISBN13: 9780811213226
• Release Date: June 1996
• Publisher: New Directions Publishing Corporation
• Length: 122 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Beyond compare

Although this volume contains her earlier works, Frame Structures is supplemented by a more recent essay that provides a wealth of information about her personal life, and in doing so enriches the poems within. Those unfamiliar with Susan Howe's work may find this to be a good introduction. Her unsurpassed ability to combine prose and poetry make this a delight for the eyes. What we see is a constancy of purpose, a dazzling command of language, and an impressive storytelling ability.