Towards the Primeval Lightning Field

by Will Alexander

Essays. Will Alexander's TOWARDS THE PRIMEVAL LIGHTNING FIELD is a work of vertical philosophy revealing strata of cultures and language, like geographical layers seen all at once. Simultaneous arpeggios of linguistic realms that explore language and perceiving. Elliot Weinberger has written about Alexander's writing: His work resembles no one's, and is instantly recognizable. In part, he is an ecstatic surrealist on imaginal hyperdrive. He is probably the only African-American poet to take Aime Cesaire as a spiritual father ... [Alexander is] a poet whose ecstasy derives from the scientific description of the stuff and the workings of the world.

Genres: Poetry

116 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Born in 1948, Will Alexander is a poet, novelist, essayist, playwright, visual artist and pianist. He was the recipient of a Whiting Fellowship for Poetry in 2001 and a California Arts Council Fellowship in 2002. He was also the subject of a colloquium published in the prestigious African American cultural journal, Callaloo in 1999. Author of nine previous books, Alexander has taught at various colleges including University of California, San Diego, New College (San Francisco, CA), Hofstra University, and Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, in addition to being associated with the nonprofit organization Theatre of Hearts/Youth First, serving at-risk youth. He is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles.