Letter to an Imaginary Friend: Parts I-IV

by Thomas McGrath

One of the English language's great poems available for the first time in one volume.

Genres: Poetry

413 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most remarkable books of poems from the 20th century. For far too long Thomas McGrath has been unduly ignored.

[Two Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true American epic and an endless touchstone resource for serious working poets.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long poems are both difficult and unusual. This book does not always succeed in creating a coherent understanding of where we are in the poem's progress. The sections do a bit better job. Still, the language is so creative and surprising, I found myself not always minding.

[Mills College Library]

811.54 M1473L 1997

[Mills College Library]

811.54 M1473Le 1985

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m very glad I read this 400 page prose poem. It tells a story brilliantly, playfully, energetically - a story across generations and lands, a story criss-crossing characters and animals and the land. It is wistful and full of thoughtful turns of phrase and turns of perspective. Beautifully done.

[Brian Wasserman · Rating 1 out of 5]

an abomination, an example of post modern nonsense

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply: An amazing, astonishing work of poetry. Thomas McGrath has created a masterpiece.

[Janée Baugher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a grand vision! Seemingly non-sequitur, reminiscent of Theodore Roethke's poems, "Meditation at Oyster River. It takes great wherewithal to compose such epic poems.

[Laura Schmidt-Dockter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not being a poet or having a firm grasp of poetry, I found this book to be plodding at times. Being from North Dakota myself, I fully understood his descriptions of the outdoors from his childhood.