Selected Poems: Summer Knowledge

by Delmore Schwartz

When this book was first published (as Summer Knowledge) in 1959. Delmore Schwartz was still riding a crest, the golden boy of the literary scene--a position he had commanded ever since the appearance of his first collection of stories and poems in 1938. Summer Knowledge won for him both the prestigious Bollingen Prize in Poetry and the Poetry Society of America's Shelley Memorial Award. lronically, indeed tragically, the praise and prizes Schwartz's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811201910
• ISBN13: 9780811201919
• Release Date: June 1967
• Publisher: New Directions Publishing Corporation
• Length: 242 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Hail The Kingdom of Poetry

I was first drawn to Schwartz via Saul Bellow's book Humboldts Gift. Although his rise and fall may be sad, what I am struck by here is the breadth of his poetry. As he says in his poem "The Kingdom of Poetry: "Poetry is quick as tigers, clever as cats, vivid as oranges". In his work, there are dark passages as "The Heavy Bear that goes with me" on the clumsiness of physical body. In contrast, there is the joyous morning song of "A small score" with song of crickets and the bubble of birds. Throughout there is the juxtaposition of classical images, as in "Plato's cave" and modern sensibility of the soul. In the longer series of poems Coriolanus and His Mother, the Roman characters of Brutus, and Marcius are interspersed with Freud and a semblance of standup comedy. I recommend this book, for its diversity and depth ... some of the images have remained with me over a decade now.Those who have read his short stories "In Dreams begin responsibilities" will enjoy the twist of the words in the selection of poems in the section "The Dreams which begin in responsibilities".

A wonderful poet, lost to our age

Delmore Schwartz was well recognized in his day, but has since lapsed into obscurity. His range of style is enormous, and his talent is superior. I recommend this work to anybody who is interested in poetry as the mainstay of a reading diet. It is truly outstanding. I don't know how I managed to earn a bachelor's degree in poetry without ever having read Delmore Schwartz. I hope that there are others like him waiting to be found . . .