American Poetry: A Very Short Introduction

A leading critic explains what makes American poetry—a vast genre covering diverse styles, techniques, and form—distinctive.

In this short and engaging volume, David Caplan proposes a new theory of American poetry. With lively writing and illuminating examples, Caplan argues that two characteristics mark the vast, contentious literature. On the one hand, several of America's major poets and critics claim that America needs a poetry equal to the country's distinctiveness. They advocate for n...