60 Indian Poets

by Jeet Thayil

60 Indian Poets spans fifty-five years of Indian poetry in English, bridging continents and generations, and seeks to expand the definition of ‘Indianness’.

Genres: Poetry, India

414 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Jeet Thayil (born 1959 in Kerala) is an Indian poet, novelist, librettist and musician. He is best known as a poet and is the author of four collections: These Errors Are Correct (Tranquebar, 2008), English (2004, Penguin India, Rattapallax Press, New York, 2004), Apocalypso (Ark, 1997) and Gemini (Viking Penguin, 1992). His first novel, Narcopolis, (Faber & Faber, 2012), was shortlisted for the 2012 Man Booker Prize and the Hindu Literary Prize 2013.

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Indian fiction and poetry is one of the richest fields in modern literature. Somehow, with a few exceptions, Jeet Thayil, who himself seems to be quite an accomplished author, has put together a collection of the most insipid and uninspiring poetry I have ever read.

I am not a qualified spokesperson on poetry, but the authors here - or perhaps just their featured work - seem to reflect on little but diaspora blues through twisted metaphors posing as imagery and a sequential deadpan observations. The use of enjambment/run-on lines in particular is grating, as though 60 professors of poetry have little to add except non-sequiturs.

I don't enjoy writing negative reviews, but this book was utterly disappointing, except for the Thayil's introduction about Indian English. Skim the introduction and avoid this disappointing book.

[Prasad GR · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone who isn’t a regular reader of poetry, this book serves as a great introduction to some of the masters of the form in English in the last century. While I did find some of them to be written in an obscure and unintelligible style, there are quite a few who more than make up with their refreshingly well composed images and turns of phrase. For instance, it was wonderful to meet Vikram Seth, the poet, and to be blown away by the sublime mastery of Arun Kolatkar. A book that is good enough to inspire someone to explore more!

[Mahak Raithatha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am never going to buy a book with so many poems again. It takes ages to read. I will go with short ones, henceforth.

[Shreela Sen]

Let's face it, I am not made for poetry.
I doubt if I will finish this book in my life...