Octavio Paz: A Study of his Poetics

by Jason Wilson

Octavio Paz (1914–1998), the eminent Mexican poet and critic, attempted to evaluate the neglected role of poetry in the twentieth century in terms of a liberating, semi-religious vocation. Jason Wilson, in this study, approaches Paz's poetics through his close relationship with André Breton (1896–1966), the surrealist leader. This is a 'spiritual biography' of a poet-thinker (Paz); a study of a fertile relationship (Paz and Breton); a re-evaluation of surrealism itself and, finally, a coping with those acute problems that all poets and readers of poetry must face in an age lacking an acceptable cultural why write? What is a poem? Who are the genuine poets? Who am I? Wilson analyses Paz's reaction to these related concerns in the poet's examination of 'the values of poetry' in terms of a liberating poetics.

204 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

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Jason Wilson is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Spanish and Latin American Studies, University College London. His books include Jorge Luis Borges (Reaktion, 2006), The Andes: A Cultural History (2009) Buenos Aires: A Cultural History (1999), Octavio Paz: A Study of his Poetics (1979), Octavio Paz (1986), An A–Z of Latin American Literature in English Translation (1989), Traveller's Literary Companion to South and Central America (1993), and essays on W. H. Hudson, Charles Darwin, Julio Cortázar and Latin American poetry. He lives in London and Buenos Aires.