Delmore Schwartz: A Critical Reassessment [Hardcover]

Taking as its starting point Delmore Schwartz's self-appointment as both a 'poet of the Hudson River' and 'laureate of the Atlantic,' this book comprehensively reassesses the poetic achievement of a critically neglected writer. Runchman reads Schwartz's poetry in relation to its national and international perspectives.Introduction 1. The Greatest Thing in North America: 'International Consciousness' or 'The Isolation of Modern Poetry'? 2. In Dreams Begin Responsibilities : The egocentric predicament' 3. The Land of the Old World failure and the New World Success: Genesis and 'America! America!' 4. An Innocent Bystander: The City, Vaudeville for a Princess , and Schwartz's Post-War Cultural Criticism 5. Summer Knowledge: 'Infinite belief in infinite hope' Conclusion

'As evidenced by Alex Runchman's skillfully and thoroughly researched book, an argument on the behalf of the lesser-known American poet, Delmore Schwartz, can be made, should be made, and has now been made here. Organized, pithy, and direct, Alex Runchman's clear and well-executed study deserves transatlantic attention.' -Stephen Burt, Professor of English, Harvard University, USA