Selected Poems: A Readerís Edition.

Herman† Melville.

Selected Poems: A Readerís Edition.

New York:

Random House,

1970

Inscribed by author to Marie Bullock (Founder, The American Academy of Poets)

Robert Penn Warren had a distinguished career as a teacher, critic, novelist, and poet that included three Pulitzer Prizes, the Bollingen Prize for American Poetry, and the designation in 1986 as Americaís first official Poet Laureate. Warren presents himself as an individual, even eccentric, ìreaderî and provides his extensive analysis and critique of ìBilly in the Darbies,î characterizing it as the ìinnermostî part of the ìinsideî story of Billy Budd. Warrenís ringing conclusion is that ìBilly in the Darbiesî is ìcertainly Melvilleís most nearly perfect poem ... in which he achieves complete mastery of style and, shall we say, of his life.î

From the Collection of William Palmer Johnston.