Poet laureate for three consecutive terms 19972000, is the author of the new prose biography, the life of david 2005, a reweaving of the biblical and rabbinic tales about king david into a single captivating narrative. He was the poet laureate of the united states from 1997 to 2000. For further information on his life and works, see clc, volumes 9, 19, 38. At the same time that it is a series of different kinds of what we casually call lyric poems, it is a constellation of musings on. His most recent poetry collection, at the foundling hospital, was published in 2016 by farrar, straus and giroux. Ew york robert pinsky, a prizewinning poet who bridges dante and the internet, has been named the nation s next poet laureate consultant in poetry. Murray dewart and robert pinsky events harvard book store. Books by robert pinsky author of the sounds of poetry. Aug 07, 2007 robert pinsky, the distinguished american poet, preserves the burning clarity and universal relevance of this th century literary masterpiece in a triumphant new translation for our times. Dantes divine comedy has been translated maybe 1,000 times with varying success and now robert pinsky has dared to try by translating the first book, the inferno, and has produced an eminently readable and successful translation.
Robert pinskys selected poems invites us to read his career in reverse, to start with his most recent books and move back through the decades to his first. Robert pinsky is an american poet, essayist, literary critic, and translator. In the past six years alone, six new translations of the inferno have appeared including robert pinskys 1994 rendition for fsg and at least 10 others remain in print, including allen mandelbaum. Poet laureate robert pinsky says hes tired of people thinking of poetry as badtasting medicine they have to swallow just. Robert pinsky poetry collection from famous poets and poems.
When robert pinskys new verse translation of the inferno was. Fsg published the inferno of dante in 1994 and the figured wheel in 1996. There have been countless translations of the inferno, but this one by poet robert pinsky is both eloquent and tailored to our times. Robert pinsky author of the sounds of poetry goodreads. Find the inferno of dante by pinsky, robert at biblio. Line by line, canto by canto, robert pinksy affirms the inferno as a powerful living classic for today s listeners. Dreams and nightmares of the american small town 2009 and the poetry collection gulf music 2007.
Dantes inferno, translated by robert pinsky canto xiii. Pinskys second volume was the booklength poem, an explanation of america. Elegant and tough, vividly imaginative, robert pinskys poems have earned praise for their wild musical energy and range. The result is a clear and vigorous translation that is also unique, studentfriendly, and faithful to the original. By conceiving of a fresh, unique way to maintain fidelity to dantes poetic structure without distorting english usage or idiom, pinsky conveys. May 26, 2010 robert pinsky speaking on modernism and memory at the key west literary seminar. Phenomenal woman, still i rise, the road not taken, if you forget me, dreams. Dante s divine comedy has been translated maybe 1,000 times with varying success and now robert pinsky has dared to try by translating the first book, the inferno, and has produced an eminently readable and successful translation. Robert pinsky is the william fairfield warren distinguished professor of. After giving a poetry reading on wednesday evening and a lecture on thursday morning, he and i sat in the poetry cottage and relaxed. Simply said, robert pinsky is one of the few literary artists working in our. Yes, this is an epic poem, but dont let that put you off.
He has also published five books of essays and a biography of king david, judged a metaphor contest on the colbert report, translated dantes inferno, penned a libretto, released two jazzpoetry albums, written a computer game, and performed with bruce springsteen. Poet laureate robert pinsky wrote a video game called mindwheel, which, as pinsky told me recently, over email, he. Merwins purgatorio what is the eloquent poetic companion of this pair for paradiso. Robert pinsky born october 20, 1940 is an american poet, essayist, literary critic, and translator. By robert pinsky jstor and the poetry foundation are collaborating to digitize, preserve, and extend access to poetry. Selected poems and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Pinsky is the author of nineteen books, most of which are collections of his. Inferno of dante alighieri and the separate notebooks by czeslaw milosz. Pinsky has managed to capture the poems intense individuality, passion, and visionary imagery. Podcast for kids nfb radio 101 sermon podcast backstage opera for iphoneipod pauping off all steak no sizzle podcast church of the oranges.
Twentyfive years after it was first published in the new yorker, robert pinskys poem shirt has been brought to the medium of film. A new verse translation by robert pinsky by dante alighieri online at alibris. Books and cds from poet robert pinsky, including poetry, prose, anthologies, translations, and audio works. The inferno of dante by dante alighieri overdrive rakuten. Robert pinsky s new verse translation of the inferno makes it clear to the contemporary listener, as no other in english has done, why dante is universally considered a poet of great power, intensity, and strength.
His bestselling translation of the inferno of dante sets a modern standard. Apr 19, 2010 robert pinskys recent books include thousands of broadways. Dantes inferno, translated by robert pinsky canto xiii the wood of suicides nessus had not yet reached the other side when we moved forward into woods unmarked by any path. Robert pinsky is one of americas foremost poetcritics. The following entry presents criticism of pinskys career through 1998. Inferno is dantes experience in walking through hell. In addition to his books of poetry and the inferno of dante, he has written prose works, including the life of david and the sounds of poetry. Pinsky is the author of nineteen books, most of which are collections of his own poetry. His guide is no other than virgil, the famous poet who wrote aeneid, sent by beatrice, dantes devoted love interest, who he says is in paradise. Whether you are approaching dante alighieris inferno for the first time, for the first time since college, or as a teacher or scholar, you will discover in robert pinskys awardwinning translation not merely a fascinating work of medieval christendom but a psychologically acute vision of sin and suffering with surprising resonance for our times. The inferno of dante by pinsky, robert used books and.
Poetry, computers, and dantes inferno the atlantic. Dante alighieris inferno and the separate notebooks by czeslaw milosz. A little less structured than the original although differences in the languages are responsible for that it s a recent translation, so you dont run into the archaic usages youd find in longfellow. Sep 14, 2008 i really loved robert pinsky s translation of the inferno, for readability. It s also a poetry translation, as opposed to prose translations. To the teacher whether you are approaching dante alighieri s inferno for the first time, for the first time since college, or as a teacher or scholar, you will discover in robert pinsky s awardwinning translation not merely a fascinating work of medieval christendom but a psychologically acute vision of sin and suffering with surprising resonance for our times. As edward hirsch wrote in the new yorker, robert pinskys translation is fastpaced, idiomatic, and accurate. I decided to read dante s divine comedy in the month of april. When robert pinsky wrote a video game the new yorker. Pinskys translation, published in 1995, was a national bestseller and a hit with literature critics, as it was considered more idiomatic and accessible than itsread more.
Robert pinsky has 77 books on goodreads with 15551 ratings. Robert pinsky s gifts as a poet, a wild imagination disciplined by an informed commitment to technical mastery, are superbly well suited to the infernos immense demands. From 1997 to 2000, he served as poet laureate consultant in poetry to the library of congress. Robert pinsky was born on october 20, 1940, in long branch, new jersey, where he attended long branch high school. I decided to read dantes divine comedy in the month of april. A professor of english and creative writing at cas, pinsky is the pulitzer prizenominated author of 10 books of poetry. Robert pinsky is the author of several books of poetry, including gulf music, jersey rain, the want bone, and the figured wheel. Poet laureate pinsky employs slant rhyme and near rhyme to preserve dantes terza rima form without distorting the flow of english idiom. Robert pinskys recent books include thousands of broadways. This translation is wonderfully alert to dante s strange blend. See all books authored by robert pinsky, including the sounds of poetry.
Writing, speaking, teaching, poetry projects robert pinsky. Robert pinskys books of poetry include sadness and happiness, an explanation of america, history of my heart, and the want bone. Jan 21, 2016 it was in the midst of this excited moment that the future threeterm u. In this fascinating book, he explains how poets use the technology of. It was in the midst of this excited moment that the future threeterm u. Learning to write and read poetry by studying with the masters, and more on. Robert pinsky books list of books by author robert pinsky.
The book is therefore shaped more like a detective story than a traditional chronological narrative. Dantes version of hell is influenced by christian theology, philosophy and former literary works of virgil, ovid. As the engaged reader discovers gradually and with increasing pleasure, robert pinskys new volume of poems, richly titled at the foundling hospital, delicately but persistently works in two ways at once. Robert pinskys most popular book is the sounds of poetry. Apr 12, 2011 robert pinskys selected poems invites us to read his career in reverse, to start with his most recent books and move back through the decades to his first. When robert pinskys new verse translation of the inferno was published in hardcover in 1994, pinsky was praised for creating a supple american equivalent for dantes vernacular music where many. Dante in the depths robert pinsky reads from dantes inferno in dunmore cave, which was famous in ancient times for being. A former poet laureate of the united states, robert pinsky was born and raised in long branch, new jersey. Dec 09, 2014 twentyfive years after it was first published in the new yorker, robert pinskys poem shirt has been brought to the medium of film. Early in march 1994, robert pinsky spent two days at the university of arizona. New and collected poems 19661996 was a pulitzer prize finalist.
The following is the transcript of a live online conference with robert pinsky as it appeared in the atlantic monthly online on the america online. Robert pinsky poems poems of robert pinsky poem hunter. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. An excellent introduction provides context for the work, while detailed notes on each canto are a virtual whos who of thcentury italian politics, culture, and literature.
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