Dive into the enigmatic world of Wallace Stevens, where poetry transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. Through vivid imagery and profound philosophical musings, Stevens explores the deep interplay between reality and imagination. Each stanza reveals a new layer of meaning, challenging readers to reconsider their understanding of beauty and existence. This collection is a journey through the mind of one of America's greatest poets, rich with lyrical elegance and intellectual depth. Immerse yourself in Stevens' verses that invite reflection and inspire wonder!
By Wallace Stevens
Published: 2015
"The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream."
An essential book for all readers of poetry, and the definitive collection from the man Harold Bloom has called “the best and most representative American poet." Originally published in 1954 to honor Stevens’s seventy-fifth birthday, the book was rushed into print for the occasion and contained scores of errors. These have now been corrected in one place for the first time by Stevens scholars John N. Serio and Christopher Beyers, based on original editions and manuscripts. The Collected Poems is the one volume that Stevens intended to contain all the poems he wished to preserve, presented in the way he wanted. It is an enduring monument to his dazzling achievement.
Wallace Stevens (1879–1955) was an American poet and insurance executive, renowned for his modernist poetry that explores the relationship between reality and imagination. His notable works include 'Harmonium,' 'The Auroral Days,' and 'The Collected Poems of Wallace Stevens,' which earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1955. Stevens' writing style is characterized by its rich imagery, philosophical themes, and intricate syntax, often blending abstraction with sensuality. His poetry delves into existential questions and the nature of perception, establishing him as a central figure in 20th-century American literature.
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“The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream.”
The Collected Poems of Wallace Stevens
By Wallace Stevens
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