Tilbury Town

by Edwin Arlington Robinson

Poetry.

Hardcover

First published June 1, 1953

About the author

Works of American poet Edwin Arlington Arlington include long narratives and character studies of New Englanders, including "Miniver Cheevy" (1907).

Edwin Arlington Robinson won three Pulitzer Prizes for his work. His family moved to Gardiner, Maine, in 1870. He described his childhood as "stark and unhappy."

Early difficulties of Robinson led to a dark pessimism, and his stories dealt with "an American dream gone awry."

In 1896, he self-published his first book, "The Torrent and the Night Before", paying 100 dollars for 500 copies. His second volume, "The Children of the Night", had a somewhat wider circulation.

Edwin Arlington Robinson won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1922 for his first "Collected Poems," in 1925 for "The Man Who Died Twice," and in 1928 for "Tristram."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Ar...

Reviews

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Edwin Arlington Robinson. Amazing stuff.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided this month to get my poetry reading organized - and that I would do so by reading the book for which each of the poets had won the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry in chronological order. That meant reading the works of Edwin Arlington Robinson - the very FIRST person to win a Pulitzer for Poetry - in 1922. I ordered the prize-winning book, but in the meantime, I found this book to start my organized reading. I had no idea what to expect from a poetry writer from over 100 years ago. MUCH to my surprise, I LOVED this book with all the poems about Tilbury Town. Is there another poet who has ever created a whole fictitious town. I know many fiction writers have done so, but another poet? This volume also has an introduction to the works of Robinson and some excellent notes on the specific poems at the back. HIGH recommendation. Now - on to the award-winning book which has arrived - The Collected Poems of Edwin Arlington Robinson.
Oh, by the way, Robinson went on to win the Pulitzer in Poetry again in 1929 and 1928.

[Robert Risher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why I've never added this to my Goodreads, but I just finished it for the umpteenth time, and it is by far my favorite book of poetry. It moves me every time to want to write my own, and it's simplicity and awkward rhyme schemes make me think it's possible. The subjects are incredibly varied, though all of the poems together paint a vivid picture of the troubles surrounding all of us, whether we recognize them or not. This volume is likely a difficult one to find due to its age. My own copy is somehow from the University of Iowa library, or so it's stamped. It is falling apart in various places and discolored from use, but it endures, as do Robinson's verses. I can't recommend it enough, if you can find it.