I participated in a mini-workshop with Adam Zagajewski at George Mason University back in the 80's. C. K. Williams, his poet friend, was teaching there and invited him in for the workshop and a reading. I think I have all his books, spoke to him after the reading but can't remember (!) anything he said. I didn't know about his prose book but did find it online for about $20 from ABE Books. You might want to check it out. I heard Strand read at the Library of Congress, have many of his books as well. I'm going to check and see if I have the Hopper; rings a bell. In Zagajewski's last book there's a poem about his visiting Charlie (Williams) when he was dying; they were friends for some 30 years I believe. Very beautiful and sad. I think Z. lived maybe five years more. Hard to lose all three.
Elisabeth thank you so much for this comment! It's so interesting how sometimes we don't remember what someone said. It's possible to find used copies of Another Beauty but I really think this is a book that should be available new! I love C.K. Williams too, sad to think of all of them gone now.
Aviya, your Triquarterly essay was very moving and made me want to read every poet you mentioned (and their prose and all the works of their friends and enemies).
Hi Aviya, Thanks for the link to the Carpenter article.
Powell's tends to be a little more expensive than ABE; I believe ABE is connected to Amazon. I try not to order from Amazon but sometimes they're the only source.
I am finishing the Triquarterly essay right now, it is wonderful. I wish I'd met Strand, but in hindsight, I think that I lacked the maturity to make it count (if I had). I missed the chances to really learn from Jane Hirshfield and Marie Howe too (and Diane Seuss), always too busy studying something else or working. But better late than never (though I don't think Strand would have agreed with that).
Thank you, Marla! I have a feeling that we all meet the right teacher at the right time. So it's definitely never too late. At the time, I really had no idea who Mark Strand was, and I think I was just lucky to walk into his classroom. I do love Marie Howe's work and hope that someday I will have the chance to study with her!
HI Elisabeth--just checked and you are right on ABE books--thank you! There apparently is a bookseller with a lot of 20 new copies and another with 5 new copies. But for the purposes of assigning a book for a college course, this book is still considered out-of-print--I was not able to order it through the campus bookstore. There are some wonderful booksellers that buy lots of great books that are going out-of-print....I have found many such treasures in Powell's in Hyde Park, Chicago. My sense is that the astute booksellers on ABE are like those at Powell's!
That's so lovely--I love the word "mild". It makes sense that he was shy....his book is very much in observer mode. I think Mark Strand was kind of shy too, in his way!
I participated in a mini-workshop with Adam Zagajewski at George Mason University back in the 80's. C. K. Williams, his poet friend, was teaching there and invited him in for the workshop and a reading. I think I have all his books, spoke to him after the reading but can't remember (!) anything he said. I didn't know about his prose book but did find it online for about $20 from ABE Books. You might want to check it out. I heard Strand read at the Library of Congress, have many of his books as well. I'm going to check and see if I have the Hopper; rings a bell. In Zagajewski's last book there's a poem about his visiting Charlie (Williams) when he was dying; they were friends for some 30 years I believe. Very beautiful and sad. I think Z. lived maybe five years more. Hard to lose all three.
Elisabeth thank you so much for this comment! It's so interesting how sometimes we don't remember what someone said. It's possible to find used copies of Another Beauty but I really think this is a book that should be available new! I love C.K. Williams too, sad to think of all of them gone now.
Aviya, your Triquarterly essay was very moving and made me want to read every poet you mentioned (and their prose and all the works of their friends and enemies).
Shara, thank you! I miss Professor Strand every day--and he definitely taught me how to *really* read.
Hi Aviya, Thanks for the link to the Carpenter article.
Powell's tends to be a little more expensive than ABE; I believe ABE is connected to Amazon. I try not to order from Amazon but sometimes they're the only source.
Sometimes it's really hard to find a book. I have found great bargains at Powell's, but it may be because I am a frequent shopper!
I am finishing the Triquarterly essay right now, it is wonderful. I wish I'd met Strand, but in hindsight, I think that I lacked the maturity to make it count (if I had). I missed the chances to really learn from Jane Hirshfield and Marie Howe too (and Diane Seuss), always too busy studying something else or working. But better late than never (though I don't think Strand would have agreed with that).
Thank you, Marla! I have a feeling that we all meet the right teacher at the right time. So it's definitely never too late. At the time, I really had no idea who Mark Strand was, and I think I was just lucky to walk into his classroom. I do love Marie Howe's work and hope that someday I will have the chance to study with her!
The copy of Zagajewski's book from ABE is new. I believe they had other copies available.
HI Elisabeth--just checked and you are right on ABE books--thank you! There apparently is a bookseller with a lot of 20 new copies and another with 5 new copies. But for the purposes of assigning a book for a college course, this book is still considered out-of-print--I was not able to order it through the campus bookstore. There are some wonderful booksellers that buy lots of great books that are going out-of-print....I have found many such treasures in Powell's in Hyde Park, Chicago. My sense is that the astute booksellers on ABE are like those at Powell's!
Also--while we are on the subject of Zagajewski, I thought this piece by his translator, Clare Cavanaugh, was terrific! From The Washington Post:
ttps://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/02/23/adam-zagajewski-translation-true-life/
This is great, and reminds me of Lucie Brock-Broido's essay on her relationship to an out-of-print genius: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/69134/the-rebirth-of-a-suicidal-genius
Thank you and can't wait to read this Lucie Brock-Broido piece! I appreciate the rec.....it looks great!
Wow!!!! I truly regret not hearing him read in person.
That's so lovely--I love the word "mild". It makes sense that he was shy....his book is very much in observer mode. I think Mark Strand was kind of shy too, in his way!