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American Sonnets: an Anthology:
When American poets turn to the sonnet, they invest it with a glamour and intensity equal to anything they have to show in more flamboyant, new-minted shapes. Like a symphony by Copland or a nude by de Kooning, an American sonnet marries European artistic tradition to New World innovation and expansiveness. Something old and familiar—the themes and schemes and history of the 14-line lyric—becomes something new, vital, and characteristically American.
This unique anthology presents one critic’s selection from two centuries of American sonnets. Some of David Bromwich’s choices—Hart Crane’s tribute to Emily Dickinson, for example, or Emma Lazarus’s dedication of Lady Liberty to the world’s tired and poor—are classics cast in bronze. Others—Elizabeth Bishop’s short-lined “Sonnet” or any sonnet typed by Cummings—are hammers that shatter the mold. The heart of the book is in the clusters of sonnets by Longfellow, Very, Tuckerman, Robinson, Frost, Stickney, Wylie, and Millay. Here are our Petrarchs and Shakespeares, the American masters who, by living within the strictures of the octave and the sestet, found full voice, enlarged a tradition, and changed the sonnet forever.
About the American Poets Project
Elegantly designed in compact editions, printed on acid-free paper, and textually authoritative, the American Poets Project makes available the full range of the American poetic accomplishment, selected and introduced by today’s most discerning poets and critics.
This unique anthology presents one critic’s selection from two centuries of American sonnets. Some of David Bromwich’s choices—Hart Crane’s tribute to Emily Dickinson, for example, or Emma Lazarus’s dedication of Lady Liberty to the world’s tired and poor—are classics cast in bronze. Others—Elizabeth Bishop’s short-lined “Sonnet” or any sonnet typed by Cummings—are hammers that shatter the mold. The heart of the book is in the clusters of sonnets by Longfellow, Very, Tuckerman, Robinson, Frost, Stickney, Wylie, and Millay. Here are our Petrarchs and Shakespeares, the American masters who, by living within the strictures of the octave and the sestet, found full voice, enlarged a tradition, and changed the sonnet forever.
About the American Poets Project
Elegantly designed in compact editions, printed on acid-free paper, and textually authoritative, the American Poets Project makes available the full range of the American poetic accomplishment, selected and introduced by today’s most discerning poets and critics.
- GenresPoetry
224 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2007
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33 people want to read
About the author
David Bromwich
48 books24 followersDavid Bromwich is Sterling Professor of English at Yale University.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 5, 2017
A lovely anthology from the American poets project focusing on the American use of the sonnet form. Including sonnets by as Longfellow, Lowell, Bowers, Poe, Millay, Berryman, and Robert Frost and arranged chronologically, it is an excellent way to engage with form through the history of US poets writing in English.
February 8, 2013
The American Poets Project, from The Library of America, is one of the treasures of American publishing. The goal of the series is to create definitive selections of America's greatest poets edited by our best contemporary writers. Each volume is a gift of great poetry.
"American Sonnets" is an example of the thematic anthologies that are also created to fill in gaps that may occur when we only look at poets of great renown. By including poems by poets who may not merit their own volumes, the editors are uncovering a glorious trove of forgotten and undiscovered gems. The sonnets in this volume are rare and delightful.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves poetry. If you are a fan of Shakespearean or Petrarchan sonnets you will find many variations. The American imagination at work over three centuries brings this often maligned form to life again.
"American Sonnets" is an example of the thematic anthologies that are also created to fill in gaps that may occur when we only look at poets of great renown. By including poems by poets who may not merit their own volumes, the editors are uncovering a glorious trove of forgotten and undiscovered gems. The sonnets in this volume are rare and delightful.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves poetry. If you are a fan of Shakespearean or Petrarchan sonnets you will find many variations. The American imagination at work over three centuries brings this often maligned form to life again.
January 17, 2017
3-1/2 stars
This is not a large collection and it includes many poets dating back to 1700’s, so it is a smattering and you may or may not enjoy the selection. It is worth checking it out – you might be very happy with it. I discovered some poets I did not know and re-visited some I know very well, a few of which I have read and re-read since childhood (Millay, Lowell, Meredith, Wylie). I hadn’t really ever thought of “Wild Peaches” as a sonnet, but it is … a collection of sonnets.
My favorite new sonnet was "The Astronomers of Mont Blanc" by Edgar Bowers which I had not read before, or if I had, I suppose I wasn’t in a mood to love it. But I do now.
This is not a large collection and it includes many poets dating back to 1700’s, so it is a smattering and you may or may not enjoy the selection. It is worth checking it out – you might be very happy with it. I discovered some poets I did not know and re-visited some I know very well, a few of which I have read and re-read since childhood (Millay, Lowell, Meredith, Wylie). I hadn’t really ever thought of “Wild Peaches” as a sonnet, but it is … a collection of sonnets.
My favorite new sonnet was "The Astronomers of Mont Blanc" by Edgar Bowers which I had not read before, or if I had, I suppose I wasn’t in a mood to love it. But I do now.
September 2, 2023
"The man is only half himself, the other half is his expression."
From John Quincy Adams, to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Edgar Allan Poe, to Edwin Arlington Robinson and Robert Frost, to Edna St. Vincent Millay and E.E. Cummings, to John Berryman; many poems are squeezed into this pocket-sized hardback collection of sonnets. A few of these poets are yet living; and men and women from all walks of life are included.
The collection was made in this century, though the poems themselves are mostly classics. The poets are compiled in chronological order, which makes it a convenient reading resource. No information is given on each person's life, however. There is room at the bottom of each page to make notes as you explore the poems. That is a good thing, since the editor's focus was on making less known work more available. I already knew many of the poets and sonnets. But, there were as many more that were totally new to me.
The line in my title is from Emerson. The words of the sonnet writers are beautiful expressions of the men and women who have lived and breathed here in this new world, since the birth of this country. They make the perfect collection for anyone wanting to sample the best, and to be introduced to some yet unknown sonnets.
From John Quincy Adams, to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Edgar Allan Poe, to Edwin Arlington Robinson and Robert Frost, to Edna St. Vincent Millay and E.E. Cummings, to John Berryman; many poems are squeezed into this pocket-sized hardback collection of sonnets. A few of these poets are yet living; and men and women from all walks of life are included.
The collection was made in this century, though the poems themselves are mostly classics. The poets are compiled in chronological order, which makes it a convenient reading resource. No information is given on each person's life, however. There is room at the bottom of each page to make notes as you explore the poems. That is a good thing, since the editor's focus was on making less known work more available. I already knew many of the poets and sonnets. But, there were as many more that were totally new to me.
The line in my title is from Emerson. The words of the sonnet writers are beautiful expressions of the men and women who have lived and breathed here in this new world, since the birth of this country. They make the perfect collection for anyone wanting to sample the best, and to be introduced to some yet unknown sonnets.
March 3, 2017
I really liked authors like Poe, Santayana, Frost and Wylie. But overall, sonnets aren't my favorite style.
November 12, 2009
This is a very fine selection of sonnets that provides an excellent and enjoyable overview of a challenging and stimulating form. The poets range from well-known to not-so-well-known-anymore. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of work by Jones Very and Frederick Goddard Tuckerman as now I've been introduced to them for the first time and their work is beautiful and engaging. I love nineteenth century writers as they show me over and over how lively and serious that century was.
I also appreciated the inclusion of one of my favorite sonnets of all time: "The Illiterate" by William Meredith. Plus I was made to take a serious look at e.e. cummings --- something my grammarian's heart had never been inclined to do --- and I was struck dumb.
The introduction was interesting and there are notes at the back to explain references in the poems.
Bravo to the American Poets Project and the editor of this volume, David Bromwich.
I also appreciated the inclusion of one of my favorite sonnets of all time: "The Illiterate" by William Meredith. Plus I was made to take a serious look at e.e. cummings --- something my grammarian's heart had never been inclined to do --- and I was struck dumb.
The introduction was interesting and there are notes at the back to explain references in the poems.
Bravo to the American Poets Project and the editor of this volume, David Bromwich.
March 25, 2015
I'm not usually such a fan of structure in poetry, but this collection is a good reminder of why it exists. When it supports, rather than distracts from, the content of the piece, then it is another facet to be appreciated and enjoyed. I am glad that I selected this.
February 7, 2008
Reading now... or about to start it at least!
October 29, 2008
I enjoyed this collection of American sonnets. Some were very familiar from other anthologies, but the collection introduced me to others I had never read before.
February 1, 2009
LOTS of nature sonnets, so be forewarned.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews