A collection of short critical bios of modern American poets. Each poet receives 10-32 pages of coverage. Well written throughout. It is surprising how well Howard selects his material.
If one wishes to have an understanding of poetry in the twenty year period it reinvented itself into many poetries, or have a vision into a brilliant sophisticated reader. This is a wonderful reference. You can read the Times Book Review to appear clever, or you can read Richard Howard and learn to be literate.