The Poems of J. V. Cunningham - Paperback

by Timothy Steele (Contribution by), Timothy Steele (Editor), Timothy Steele (Author)

The lifework in verse of one of the century's finest and liveliest American poets, this collection of the poems of J. V. Cunningham (1911-85) documents the poet's development from his early days as an experimental modernist during the Depression to his emergence as the master of the classical "plain style"--distinguished by its wit, feeling, and subtlety. Often identified with the epigram--a genre in which he excelled as distinctively as Jonson, Herrick, and Landor--Cunningham also wrote in a wide range of other poetic forms and was a remarkable translator. This collection, designed to show the poet's range and skill, incorporates the materials of his 1971 Collected Poems and Epigrams and restores their original arrangement. It also adds many of his later poems and translations and some uncollected pieces from his periodicals. Timothy Steele's notes and introduction assist in re-establishing Cunningham's position as a twentieth-century original, a poet who is remembered equally for emotional power and stylistic purity.

Back Jacket

The lifework in verse of one of the finest and liveliest American poets of the twentieth century, this collection of the poems of J.V. Cunningham (1911-1958) documents the poet's development from his early days as an experimental modernist during the Depression to his later emergence as a master of the classical 'pain style, ' distinguished by its wit, feeling, and subtlety.

Author Biography

J. V. Cunningham (1911-1985) was an American poet and scholar known for his concise, epigrammatic verse and classical restraint. A student of Yvor Winters, Cunningham's poetry explores philosophical themes with wit and precision.