The Danish Notebook

by Michael Palmer

A reissue of Michael Palemer’s poetry notebook first published in 1999 and now considered a classic of the genre of poet’s prose.

In The Danish Notebook Michael Palmer sets out to discover which images and designs will appear when his reflections (on poetry, collaboration, work, travel) and memories (of chance meetings, conversations among friends, books read and movies seen) are set down on paper. The result is part memoir, part correspondence, travel diary, and poetic essay. Moving from the streets of Paris and San Francisco to the top of a Hawaiian volcano, it reveals a rare, personal look at one of the most original and influential poets of our time.

Genres: Essays, Poetry

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Michael Palmer is a poet associated with the Language Poetry movement; he is also a translator and has worked on art with painters and dancers.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of journal-like prose fragments reminds me much of Palmer's poetry -- disjunctive pieces that work to bridge and connect gaps over multiple times and places. Connections via memory and relationship overlap pushing past narrative to form a complex and complicated part of multiple wholes.

[Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps I should have come with lessened expectations. And I know that a notebook is not going to have the same rigor as a book of poetry. But there was just too much self-indulgence. Would it be better to see other books in this series? Is there a notebook from Keith Waldrop, and others, that this one connects to?

[Michelle Taransky · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's time to read this again