Selected Poems

by Anne Stevenson, Andrew Motion (Editor)

On October 3rd, 2007 Anne Stevenson was named the second recipient of the Poetry Foundation?s Neglected Masters Award. The award brings renewed critical attention to the life's work of a significant but under-recognized American poet. The Library of America is proud to publish Anne Stevenson: Selected Poems, edited by English Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, in conjunction with the award. Stevenson was born in England of American parents in 1933, grew up and received her schooling in New England and in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has spent most of her adult life in England. This is the first American edition of her work in more than a generation.

Genres: Poetry

205 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Anne Stevenson was an American-British poet and biographer.

Reviews

[Peter Crofts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, all of one other review as I post this. What a shame. Stevenson is a neglected American poet, maybe because she lived most of her adult life in England. Perhaps she is more appreciated on the other side of the Atlantic.

I sense Marianne Moore in her poetic makeup. Clear precise observations and not a hazy, lazy sentiment to be found in any of her work that I've read. Family plays a major role as her inspiration and her sentiments are, at times, quite brittle. Sure, there is love here, but much more, emotionally speaking, like any family.

The first half of this volume is dedicated to her short lyrical poems. The second half is a cycle of poems exploring the history of both sides of her family. If you like the fragmentary assemblage of Williams' "Patterson" you will find it highly engrossing.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved these poems. I must admit I started this collection and went a little slow at first. But then page and page I found myself stopping, smiling, letting out a sigh of gratitude. What a joy these poems are. And the last part of the book is brilliant as the author tells the story of a family (her family?) through imagined correspondence between members of the family.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm taking a break from this volume, about half way through... I'm not really connecting with Stevenson somehow. Occasionally, though, I'm gripped, by lines like these: "Sole to sole with your reflection/ on the glassy beach,/ your shadow gliding beside you,/ you stride in triplicate across the sand." I'll return to her one day.