Eight American Poets: An Anthology

by Joel Conarroe (Editor)

In this generous anthology, Joel Conarroe has assembled the work of eight poets who have shaped--and to some extent defined--American verse since 1940: Elizabeth Bishop, James Merrill, Sylvia Plath, Allen Ginsberg, Theodore Roethke, John Berryman, Anne Sexton, and Robert Lowell. The 164 selections in Eight American Poets include widely anthologized works like Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz," several of Berryman's "Dream Songs," and Anne Sexton's "Ringing the Bells," as well as poems that are less familiar but just as haunting. Prefaced with a discerning introduction and individual biographical essays.

Genres: Poetry, Anthologies, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not highly read in poetry, but this was an especially wonderful collection for those who are new to reading it and want to get a sense of how great some of the most renowned American poets are. I do like some of the poets more so than others. I'm impressed by Robert Lowell the most, didn't really enjoy John Berryman; some of Sylvia's poems are a hit or miss for me, though I'm enchanted by her style; I think I found a new favorite in both Anne Sexton and James Merrill. I neither like nor dislike Roethke and Bishop, and as for Ginsberg, his poems are long but very ecstatic and spirited. I'm pretty certain that most of the poets here fall into the genre of "confessional poets/poetry," and I truly admire them for putting themselves out there with such raw and intense emotions. Far more than just myself, I'm sure, find this type of poetry easy to relate to or sympathize with.

My two favorite poems from this collection have to be Plath's "Tulips" and Lowell's "The Quaker Graveyard in Nantucket."

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected to like this more than Six American Poets, which I enjoyed overall, and I guess I did, but the only one of these eight that totally knocked me out was Elizabeth Bishop. I've read a few of her poems before, but boy, this selection is fantastic. I was looking forward to Ginsberg and Sexton, both of whom I generally like, but these selections were a bit of a letdown. (Although I did really like "Kaddish" this time around, and I hadn't before, so that's something for which to be grateful.)

I liked Berryman a little less than I expected, Plath much less, Lowell more, and Roethke and Merrill didn't leave much of an impression. But there was something to appreciate about each of them, and I'll definitely crack open Bishop's Complete Poems: 1927-1979 soon.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book of poetry I owned. My uncle bought it for me for my birthday when I was 16 and I carried it with me to coffee shops around Michigan for a year or more.

[Matt Knox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal favorites from this collection:
Robert Lowell - "The Quaker Graveyard In Nantucket"
Allen Ginsberg - "Kaddish"
James Merrill - "Lost In Translation"

I was already a fan of Plath and Ginsberg - moreso Ginsberg, the most unorthodox of this collection, so much so that it's unusual to think of him alongside the rest - though I'm not much up on poetry and found the rest fairly enjoyable, particularly Robert Lowell. Roethke was inoffensively nice, Berryman I could take or leave. I had been meaning to give "Kaddish" another crack and it's as beautiful as I had expected; "Lost In Translation" was a real surprise for me, one of the best poems I've ever read. I immediately sent it to a friend, texting him, "This blew my socks off!" The heart-clutching prep-school vibes of this group (minus Ginsberg) are at times a little saccharine (albeit of an often melancholy sort), though they're all excellent poets and largely escape this stereotype through sheer skill and depth.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the first books that really got me into poetry and helped me discover anne sexton who has become one of my favorite poets. Reading this at such a young age felt revolutionary, like I was discovering something profound that I didn’t know existed. It’s a great way to dive into the genre of poetry and I would definitely recommend it for anyone who’s interested in reading real poetry, not the current three sentence sh!t people fawn over on tiktok.

[Charity Fairman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book I am sure is a fine representation of American poets and their poetry, but it was not for me. Reading this was like walking through a swamp for me. I enjoyed some of the poetry and I was already a fan of Plath, but oh man...just not my thing. Took me forever to force my way through. I did learn new information from it though, so that is always positive.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed both the poetry and the intro biographical essays on Elizabeth Bishop, Theodore Roethke, Sylvia Plath, James Merrill, Anne Sexton, Allen Ginsberg, Robert Lowell, and John Berryman. Although not all the poetry was my cup of tea, curated anthologies allow the reader to sample and move on quickly or savor the more filling poems. Worth a read.

[Isabel Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Andrea Conarro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this is a great little anthology, but really I had to add it because (notice the editor's name) it was put together by a relative of mine. Shortly after moving to New York (the first time), my brother and I were perusing the phone book and we came upon a fellow Conarro (with an "e," but nonetheless our name). I put Ryan up to calling, and when Ryan said, "Mr. Con-uh-ro?" (the way we say it), the man sighed wearily and said, "It's Con-arrow." (Aha! So that's whose been responsible for the botched pronunciation!!) We explained ourselves, and were invited to meet with Joel Con-arrow at his office by Grand Central Station. All the musty old books you could ever want. I seem to remember a rolling library ladder as well. We talked and discovered common roots in Philadelphia, then he sent us along with copies of his books. I got this one. Later, reading the jacket cover, I realized Mr. Con-arrow was former president of the MLA and was in charge of giving hefty grants to writers through the Guggenheim Foundation. ...Should have paid more homage, I guess. I saw Mr. Con-arrow several years later, sitting across from me on a subway train in his tweed golf cap. He was reading, of course, and did not look up. I said nothing, as is too often my way... I imagine him still holed up somewhere in the West Village, basking in literature.

[Vernon Vago · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book for $8. It introduced me to all included except for Plath, Ginsberg, and Sexton.. Mind that I was fresh-faced, and not very extensively read - most of my reading was contained within a single study of poetry, which I treated as an anthology, from 1941.

I was lucky to find these poets sooner rather than later, for it would've been a shame if I had ignored them and only started reading them at, say, 40. I like the work of Miss Bishop most of all, and also extensively have read Berryman's Dream Songs and his Shakespeare study, which is overlooked.

I am torn between 3 stars and 4 stars, as at least all of these eight poets are worth reading; but it's not the best selection of their work. All of these poets certainly have poems that would better represent them, and poems that are of better quality.

So: read the poets, and don't buy the collection.

Goodnight.

[Kid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of you more experienced poetry readers out there may find my rating cringe-worthy - but this has been my doorway into so much joy and awe that I'm not caring. My degree was in English Lit and I did my thesis on William Blake - so shouldn't I be a more sophisticated reader? The truthiness is that the world of academia put the hurt on me for poetry. Or at least that's my way of looking at it. Poetry is saving my life right now and if all of you all don't get it or don't want to get it or think you want to get it but just can't find this joint in your local library and dive in!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mesmerizing collection of poets, mainly from the Modernist period, I enjoyed revisiting the works of Roethke, Bishop, Plath, and Sexton, some of my favorites, as well as discovering poets that had slipped under my radar all these years -- Merrill, Lowell, and Berryman. An introductory smattering of poetry for readers who may not be quite as familiar with these works (my husband has now discovered a love for Roethke's words and the joy they evoke in their readers) and for those who want to, as Plath puts it, "taste the words" of favorite poems.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in my Contemporary American Poetry class, my sophomore year in college. While writing poetry for my whole life, and taking Lyrical Poetry the previous had also influenced me, this book cemented the fact in me that I always wanted to create and write poems - not necessarily publish them, just create them.

[Miranda Mccue · Rating 4 out of 5]

read sylvia plath's "tulips". everyone is afraid of her cuz she is suicidal and everything, but seriously tulips is good. lizzie bishop is one of my favorites, and roethke is definately up there too. ("i could say hello to things..."-roethke)

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally got this book for an Intro to Poetry class, but I find myself leafing through it and referring back to it a lot. Anyone wanting a good taste of great American poets should pick up this anthology.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice intro to all of these poets, but you'll want more of a few of them.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the inclusion of Sylvia Plath. It was the first time I really focused on her work, and I loved it.

[Alex]

Eight American Poets : An Anthology (Vintage) (1997)

[Mona B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting combination of poets. Dark stuff, but then, I gravitate to that!