This outstanding new translation brings a uniformity of voice to Zbigniew Herbert's entire poetic output, from his first book of poems, String of Light, in 1956, to his final volume, previously unpublished in English, Epilogue Of the Storm. Collected Poems: 1956-1998, as Joseph Brodsky said of Herbert's SSelected Poems, is "bound for a much longer haul than any of us can anticipate." He continues, "For Zbigniew Herbert's poetry adds to the biography of civilization the sensibility of a man not defeated by the century that has been most thorough, most effective in dehumanization of the species. Herbert's irony, his austere reserve and his compassion, the lucidity of his lyricism, the intensity of his sentiment toward classical antiquity, are not just trappings of a modern poet, but the necessary armor-in his case well-tempered and shining indeed-for man not to be crushed by the onslaught of reality. By offering to his readers neither aesthetic nor ethical discount, this poet, in fact, saves them frorn that poverty which every form of human evil finds so congenial. As long as the species exists, this book will be timely."
Zbigniew Herbert was born in Lwów, Poland, in 1924. In his late teens he fought in the under-ground resistance against the Nazis. Herbert studied law, economics, and philosophy at the universities of Krakow, Torun, and Warsaw. His books include Selected Poems, Report from the Besieged City and Other Poems, Mr Cogito, Still Life with a Bridle, The King of the Ants, Labyrinth on the Sea, and Collected Poems. He died in 1998.
Show moreThis outstanding new translation brings a uniformity of voice to Zbigniew Herbert's entire poetic output, from his first book of poems, String of Light, in 1956, to his final volume, previously unpublished in English, Epilogue Of the Storm. Collected Poems: 1956-1998, as Joseph Brodsky said of Herbert's SSelected Poems, is "bound for a much longer haul than any of us can anticipate." He continues, "For Zbigniew Herbert's poetry adds to the biography of civilization the sensibility of a man not defeated by the century that has been most thorough, most effective in dehumanization of the species. Herbert's irony, his austere reserve and his compassion, the lucidity of his lyricism, the intensity of his sentiment toward classical antiquity, are not just trappings of a modern poet, but the necessary armor-in his case well-tempered and shining indeed-for man not to be crushed by the onslaught of reality. By offering to his readers neither aesthetic nor ethical discount, this poet, in fact, saves them frorn that poverty which every form of human evil finds so congenial. As long as the species exists, this book will be timely."
Zbigniew Herbert was born in Lwów, Poland, in 1924. In his late teens he fought in the under-ground resistance against the Nazis. Herbert studied law, economics, and philosophy at the universities of Krakow, Torun, and Warsaw. His books include Selected Poems, Report from the Besieged City and Other Poems, Mr Cogito, Still Life with a Bridle, The King of the Ants, Labyrinth on the Sea, and Collected Poems. He died in 1998.
Show moreZbigniew Herbert was born in Lwów, Poland, in 1924. Herbert studied law, economics, and philosophy at the universities of Krakow, Torun, and Warsaw. His books include Selected Poems, Mr Cogito, Report from the Besieged City and Other Poems, Barbarian in the Garden, Still Life with a Bridle, The King of the Ants, and Reconstruction of the Poet.
"Zbigniew Herbert is a poet for this place; above all, for this time." -- Joseph Brodsky"Now, nearly 10 years after his death, Herbert's voice is gathered, uncensored and unimaginably strong, in one dynamic volume." -- San Francisco Chronicle"English readers have cause for celebration..." -- Philadelphia Inquirer
From his first book of poems, A String of Light (1956), to his ninth and last effort, Epilogue of a Storm (1998), Herbert (1924-98) showed himself to be a major poet. Herbert's experiences growing up in Lvov, Poland, which was occupied by the Soviets, the Nazis, and then the Soviets and is presently in Ukraine, shaped the poet's aesthetic vision and the Roman Catholic values that permeate his work. Although Herbert's anti-Communist stance kept his poems from being published until he was 32 years old, this delay gave Herbert time to immerse himself in classical authors such as Shakespeare and Cavafy; visit museums; sketch Rembrandt, Vermeer, and other masters; and study poetry with mentors like Czeslaw Milosz. All of these influences can be seen in these intellectual poems, which center on myths, nature, history, and literary figures. By the time he published his fifth book, Mr Cogito (1974), Herbert had perfected his ability to look at life from an ironic distance, embodied in Mr. Cogito, a fictitious character who seems to be Herbert's alter ego. A "Richard Cory" figure, Mr. Cogito survives not because life is easy but because he, like Herbert, sees himself as the chronicler of life's hardships. Highly recommended for all libraries.-Diane Scharper, Towson Univ., MD Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
"Zbigniew Herbert is a poet for this place; above all, for this time." -- Joseph Brodsky"Now, nearly 10 years after his death, Herbert's voice is gathered, uncensored and unimaginably strong, in one dynamic volume." -- San Francisco Chronicle"English readers have cause for celebration..." -- Philadelphia Inquirer
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