Swimming Lessons: New and Selected Poems

by Nancy Willard

An enchanting and long-awaited book of 30 new poems plus the best from ten of Nancy Willard's previous poetry collection. Here are the finest examples of her diverse style and her unique vision, at once joyful and profound--a welcome collection for longtime fans and a wonderful introduction for newcomers.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Poetry

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

NANCY WILLARD was an award-winning children's author, poet, and essayist who received the Newbery Medal in 1982 for A Visit to William Blake's Inn. She wrote dozens of volumes of children's fiction and poetry, including The Flying Bed, Sweep Dreams, and Cinderella's Dress. She also authored two novels for adults, Things Invisible to See and Sister Water, and twelve books of poetry, including Swimming Lessons: New and Selected Poems. She lived with her husband, photographer Eric Lindbloom, and taught at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Reviews

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed most of the poetry in this book, there always seems to be some message conveyed to me. Others I did not enjoy as much but I'm sure they were meant for someone to read and enjoy besides me. Many gave me food for thought.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could somehow express that area between 'liked it' and 'really liked it', especially with books of poetry or essays. The new poems in this book I like a great deal. Then the next few excerpts from books I'm not so crazy about, and then the few after that I thought were wonderful, and then I went lukewarm again. It's an uneven collection, but I do recommend Willard as a poet--her images are so sharp and unexpected. As a poet, she challenged me to look at objects in unexpected ways (not unlike the way surrealists do visually).

[Lisbeth Solberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

First saw "A Wreath for the Fish" in the L. A. Times book review one Sunday; both Andie and I clipped it. I like the one about the angel in the mirror, too, and "A Cat to his Dinner" is a small, perfect gem. Pair "Swimming Lessons" with the Mary Oliver "Swimming Lesson."

[Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, beautiful, wonderful.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked some of the poems and found others i.e. Carpenter of the Sun series confusing. At times some of the poems really jumped out with lyrical descriptions. First I have read of her works,