Beyond

by Albert Goldbarth

This collection of poetry ranges from sonnet-sized meditations to extended narratives, from myth-laden journeys to pop cultural autobiography. The centrepiece is the award-winning prose and verse narrative, "The Two Domains".

Genres: Poetry

108 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1998

About the author

Albert Goldbarth is an American poet born January 31, 1948 in Chicago. He is known for his prolific production, his gregarious tone, his eclectic interests and his distinctive 'talky' style. He has been a Guggenheim fellow and won the National Book Critics Circle award in 1991 and 2001, the only poet to receive the honor two times. He also won the Mark Twain Award for Humorous Poetry, awarded by the Poetry Foundation, in 2008.

Goldbarth received his BA from the University of Illinois in 1969 and his MFA from the University of Iowa in 1971. He is currently distinguished professor of Humanities at Wichita State University, and he teaches in the Low-Residency MFA program in Creative Writing at Converse College.

Reviews

[Tori Thurmond · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s clear the Goldbarth is a talented poet, but I find that his poems, especially in this collection, try to accomplish too much. They go on for too long and expect too much out of the reader. I though the poems lacked focus.

[Karlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the holidays, I read poems from 3 books by Goldbarth, a wonderful poet whom I had missed somehow. Even those who do not usually read poetry would find his work interesting.

[Deja Bertucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Mr Goldbarth, where have you been all my life?

Been a long time since I fell into a deep swoon for a poet. But golly.

Read this on the train this morning, and laughed and laughed.

Is dense. Will need/want to read it again (and again). And immediately acquire everything else I can find by this good sir.

[Alex Dissing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was given to me by a dear friend. Goldbarth is a weirdo, but he's so comfortable with his own weirdness that one can't help but listen to him & laugh at/with him.

[Godine Publisher & Black Sparrow Press · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There is simply no poet like him."
— Kenyon Review