E. E. Cummings Revisited

by Barry A. Marks

Softcover book. A study and commentary on the works of E. E. Cummings. 156 pages with Notes, Bibliography, Index. In the Twayne U. S. Authors series. T-46. Photograph of Cummings and the U. S. eagle emblem on the cover.

Genres: Poetry

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to this book, instead of poking at poems by cummings
cautiously with a long stick (as at a squirming little sea creature on a beach--is it alive? does it bite?), I will now (I think) be able to pick one up fearlessly and handle it with curiosity, knowing it may tickle me or pinch me or mystify me in pleasurable ways. Turns out he was a painter too, and serious/not serious about that the same way he was with his poems.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

An immensely accessible introduction to Cummings, full of insights into his life and poetry as well as interesting analysis (and criticism) of his poetry. Definitely made me appreciate Cummings, but also place him in context of his literary and artistic peers (like his friend William Carlos Williams)...ultimately I think I prefer Emily Dickinson's nursery-rhyme readability (which still includes some of the capitalization and punctuation trends that make Cummings intriguing) and Williams's straightforwardness, and Plath/Frost/Rilke/Browning/Shakespeare/Donne/Blake's conventionality. Just my personal taste. I still kind of love Cummings, though. I think.
But I don't think I would've been able to like Cummings nearly so much if it weren't for Marks.

[Priscilla B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barry A. Marks aligns his words so eloquently, you almost forget he’s giving insight to one of history’s most controversial poets. It gave in-depth criticism and analysis to some of E.E. Cummings’s more innovative poems. It was a near guide to Cummings’s ingenious mind.

From a painter to a writer, Cummings did not disappoint. His work caused immense dissension between readers, writers and critics. Isn’t that one of the many purposes of art? To express one’s self, whether it but we with words, paintings, or music. It is for the artist to create, no matter the topic, and onlookers to enjoy.

[Sacha]

Would try other books in this series. Enjoyed some of the insights this author shared but felt the book veered into projecting rather than interpreting with some work. Then the book was due back at the library.