Collected Poems

A stunning and considered collection of poetry and writings by one of the mostintriguing and accomplished voices in contemporary literature. Paul Austerspenetra... » 

A stunning and considered collection of poetry and writings by one of the mostintriguing and accomplished voices in contemporary literature. Paul Austerspenetrating and charged verse resembles little else in recent American poetry.This collection of Austers poetry translations and composition notes fromearly in his career do much to reinforce the idea that Paul Auster is indeeda unique and masterful figure in the literary world. Taut densely lyrical andeverywhere informed by a powerful and subtle music this selection of writingsbegins with the compact verse fragments of Spokes written when Auster was inhis early twenties and Unearth continues on through the more amplemeditations of Wall Writing Disappearances Effigies Fragments From the ColdFacing the Music and White Spaces then moves further back in time to includeAusters revealing translations of many of the French poets who influenced hisown writing as well as the provocative and previously unpublished Notes FromA Composition Book 1967. An introduction by Norman Finkelstein connectsbiographical elements to a consideration of the work and takes in Austersearly literary and philosophical influences. Powerful haunting and precisethis view from the past to the present will appeal to those unfamiliar withthis aspect of Austers work as well as those already acquainted with hispoetry. «