Behind the State Capitol: Or Cincinnati Pike: 50th Anniversary Edition

by John Wieners

Genres: Poetry

250 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

John Joseph Wieners (January 6, 1934 – March 1, 2002) was an American poet.

Reviews

[Mitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read this book, I only knew the first 2 Wieners books, Ace of Pentacles & The Hotel Wently Poems, and I was ready to sit down with a book of torch songs, lyrical & heartbreaking stuff. I read the first three poems here, and my jaw hit the floor. I had no idea what was going on. It took me several turns with this book before I began to appreciate the power & beauty in it. Once I was hooked, though, I started carrying it around with me wherever I went, obsessed. I read it to friends, and eventually, it clicked. Pre-language language poetry. Wieners deconstructed the torch song, right before our eyes. Stunning.

[C.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

PURE GENIUS! And JUST PUBLISHED is the John Wieners EPC page that I had the pleasure of helping put together. I chose a large selection from THIS book, which you can see here: http://epc.buffalo.edu/authors/wieners/

BUT GET THE BOOK THROUGH INTERLIBRARY LOAN AND READ IT COVER TO COVER!

And fingers crossed for a forthcoming COLLECTED WIENERS!

CAConrad
http://CAConrad.blogspot.com

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

As eccentric a book of poetry as one could hope to find. Marvelous, strange and moving.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

my friend sent me a pdf of it last night and i stayed up reading it...genius.