Creator
Herman Melville.
Title
Selected Poems.
Coverage
Edited by Helen Vendler. San Francisco:
Publisher
The Arion Press,
Date
1995
Subject
No. 189 of edition of 250.
Description
In 2006, The New York Times called Helen Vendler the ìleading poetry critic in Americaî and in 2023, she was awarded the highest honor for criticism by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In the introduction to this collection, she notes that Melvilleís ìarresting and wholly original poetryî is from the same mind that produced Moby-Dick, ìthe greatest American novel.î Vendler describes the poetry of Melvilleís maturity as learned and philosophical but asserts that its relative unpopularity has been the result of his ìdespairing view of sexuality, war, politics, and religion.î
This selection of Melvilleís poetry is the 47th publication of The Arion Press and shares elements of their sixth publication in 1979, Moby-Dick. Barry Moser, the artist whose illustrations enhanced that earlier monument in the art of bookmaking, engraved and signed a new portrait of an older Melville for the frontispiece of Selected Poems, seen here with the title page.
This selection of Melvilleís poetry is the 47th publication of The Arion Press and shares elements of their sixth publication in 1979, Moby-Dick. Barry Moser, the artist whose illustrations enhanced that earlier monument in the art of bookmaking, engraved and signed a new portrait of an older Melville for the frontispiece of Selected Poems, seen here with the title page.
Source
From the Collection of William Palmer Johnston.
Comments