Library Journal Review
Unlike its predecessors, this third anthology of poetry readings remastered from 1960s LPs is beset with problems. These are studio recordings at a point when sound systems and equipment were rapidly improving, and the background noise on many recordings is inexcusable. Introductions to the poets' works are very brief, often just quoting the words of another poet. In the volumes with more historical significance, it was easier to forgive the inclusion of poets whose roles were more important than their poems, but readings by William Jay Smith, Richard Wilbur, and William Meredith do not exactly make listeners want to pay attention. And why novelist John Updike? Equally confusing is the inclusion of Robert Kelly (especially when neither Charles Olson nor Robert Duncan is included). Still, these recordings have value in hearing some of the more familiar masters--Robert Bly, Denise Levertov, Sylvia Plath, Robert Creeley, James Wright, Adrienne Rich, etc. Obviously, any complete audio library is going to want this volume along with the other two, but it's hard to recommend in its own right.--Rochelle Ratner, formerly with Soho Weekly News, New York (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |