Times Three

by Phyllis McGinley

Selected verse from three decades, with 70 new poems. Forward by W. H. Auden. Poems arranged by decade.

Genres: Poetry

304 pages, Hardcover

Published September 23, 1960

About the author

McGinley was educated at the University of Southern California and at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. After receiving her diploma in 1927, she taught for a year in Ogden and then at a junior high school in New Rochelle, New York. Once she had begun to establish a reputation for herself as a writer, McGinley gave up teaching and moved to New York City, where she held various jobs. She married Charles Hayden in 1937, and the couple moved to Larchmont, New York. The suburban landscape and culture of her new home was to provide the subject matter of much of McGinley's work.

McGinley was elected to the National Academy of Arts and Letters in 1955. She was the first writer to win the Pulitzer for her light verse collection, Times Three: Selected Verse from Three Decades with Seventy New Poems (1960).

In addition to poetry, McGinley wrote essays and children's books, as well as the lyrics for the 1948 musical revue Small Wonder.

Reviews

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light verse from the mid-twentieth century, and quite a lot of fun. McGinley wrote light verse, but was no lightweight. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961. Sample:

The Old Feminist

Snugly upon the equal height,
enthroned at last where she belongs,
She takes no pleasure in her Rights
who so enjoyed her Wrongs!

[Alexandre Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poeta cômica - autora de light verse. Auden a considerava uma das maiores poetas da época; hoje está injustamente esquecida. Das melhores compras que fiz este ano.

[Jean Bowen]

Just arrived in the mail. with an intro by Auden. Already fascinating.

- - -

A bright book of light verse. If you don't like light verse, can't stand Ogden Nash, don't worry- you still might like Phyllis McGinley.

[Daniel Klawitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ah, where's the patented device
That I can learn to master?
My icebox yields me melted ice,
My oven, but disaster.
From stranded cars it is my fate
To view the rural scenery;
For I'm the poor unfortunate
Undone by all machinery."

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun. McGinley is able to be serious but what makes her unique is her humor. Occasionally light, occasionally biting, McGinley busted my gut regularly so her poetry can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of your familiarity with poetry in general (I'm kind of a lightweight myself).

[Elizabeth Scott Tervo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dated, but still enjoyable.

[Dave Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, light poetry. A little surprised this won the Pulitzer Prize but it was a pretty quick easy read.