Capturing the Dead

by Daniel Nathan Terry, Margo Lagattuta (Editor)

Capturing the Dead is a sequence of poems embodying the perspectives of Civil War soldiers and photographers, primarily that of a fictional war photographer named Noah Williams. Winner of the 2007 Stevens Poetry Manuscript Competition, it is praised by contest judge Jeff Gundy "for the clarity of its focus, the precision of its language, and the depth and subtlety of its emotional resonances. Poet A. Van Jordan attests to the power of Terry's "The language of this stunningly accomplished debut collection is more haunting than the images of the dead in war that it captures. . . . Don't be fooled by the look back into history; these poems are relevant today and resonate with us."

Genres: Poetry

71 pages, Paperback

First published April 8, 2008

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

The idea behind this poetry book is brilliant. Terry channels the voices of Civil War photographers like Matthew Brady and his crew to report what they saw on the battlefields and beyond. Using research and photos, he takes us right there, showing the naiveté of the young soldiers and the horror of their death. It is not easy to read about severed body parts and skeletons or the families who never heard what happened to their loved ones. It’s gritty but masterfully done. The poems are not too “poetic.” I’m not sure I like the last section, where he follows some of his characters long after the war, but it’s still a very special book of poetry.

[William Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel Nathan Terry paints a wonderfully vibrant image of the horrors of the civil war from multiple angles. While primarily from the views of photographers, it also includes soldiers and their families. Going from poems about longing to gothic images of death, this collection shows a surprising amount of versatility and narrative cohesion

[Ian C. Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a vivid recollection of the civil war, told through a deep grief and the hollowness that changes people through trauma. Terry captures anguish, pride, and regret in his collection. Overall, it is an ambitious attempt that, at times, falls short. Many of the poems in "Capturing the Dead" lack a strong conclusion, ending before a significant Volta. And while the word choice and description is precise, the shift in voice can be, at times, distracting.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Fresh take on Civil War stuff and the art of (early) photography