[Jennifer Reeser]

Begging your pardon -- I have been slow getting to this book, due to the pandemic lockdowns and our multiple natural disasters here.

Formalists Julie Kane, Gail White, Wil Mills and I have received first-rate entries in a recent, authoritative anthology of Louisiana poets, edited by Catharine Savage Brosman & Olivia McNeely Pass, published by the University Press of Mississippi. The title is "Louisiana Poets: A Literary Guide."

Ms. Brosman opens the book with a preface: "Louisiana has long been honored in American letters, as a seat of literary culture, a Parnassus, producing fiction writers, poets, dramatists, and critics among the finest in the nation."

The press describes it thus: "Louisiana has long been recognized for its production of talented writers, and its poets in particular have shined. From the early poetry of the state to the work crafted in the present day, Louisiana has nurtured and exported a rich and diverse poetic tradition. In Louisiana Poets: A Literary Guide authors Catharine Savage Brosman and Olivia McNeely Pass assess the achievements of Louisiana poets from the past hundred years who, Brosman and Pass assert, deserve both public notice and careful critical examination.

Louisiana Poets presents the careers and works of writers whose verse is closely connected to the peoples, history, and landscapes of Louisiana or whose upbringing or artistic development occurred in the state. Brosman and Pass chose poets based on the scope, abundance, and excellence of their work; their critical reception; and the local and national standing of the writer and work. The book treats a wide range of forty poets—from national bestsellers to local celebrities—detailing their histories and output.

Intended to be of broad interest and easy to consult, Louisiana Poets showcases the corpus of Louisiana poetry alongside its current profile. Brosman and Pass have created a guide that provides a way for readers to discover, savor, and celebrate poets who have been inspired in and by the Pelican State."

I agree with Professor John Ferstel, University of Louisiana at Lafayette:

"Not just a reference book or rehash, this stimulating guide is a loving and nuanced appreciation of some of Louisiana’s very best poets that will inspire readers to delve deeply into the state’s literary treasure. Readers will be amazed at the depth and breadth of the coverage as well as the refreshing discussion they present in such a condensed format. "

Those interested can find it here:

https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/L/Louisiana-Poets


Many thanks.

Jennifer