A History of American Poetry

"In his preface to this work, Richard Gray says that he has "tried to be faithful to the sheer range and plurality of the American poetic tradition," and much the most impressive feature of this work is the "sheer range" of authors it covers. Extending from Philip Freneau at the end of the eighteenth century to emerging Asian-American poets at the beginning of the twenty-first, this book offers the reader a compendious, almost encyclopaedic range, which treats every facet of American poetry ... Gray writes fluently and with stylistic brio about a very large range of American poets, and he manages to convey a strong sense not only of his commitment to this field but also his enjoyment of it."--Paul Giles, University of Sydney
"Richard Gray's History of American Poetry has great appeal for both specialized scholars and general readers. Gray's lucid prose style and sensitive analyses allow us to gain valuable insights into American poetry seen within its historical context."--Susan Castillo, King's College London