With Robert
Lowell and His Circle: Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, Elizabeth Bishop, Stanley Kunitz, &
Others by Kathleen Spivack
In 1959 Kathleen Spivack won a fellowship to study at Boston University
with Robert Lowell. Her fellow students were Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton,
among others. Thus began a relationship with the famous poet and his circle
that would last to the end of his life in 1977 and beyond. Spivack presents a
lovingly rendered story of her time among some of the most esteemed artists of
a generation. Part memoir, part loose collection of anecdotes, artistic
considerations, and soulful yet clear-eyed reminiscences of a lost time and
place, hers is an intimate portrait of the often suffering Lowell, the great
and near great artists he attracted, his teaching methods, his private world,
and the significant legacy he left to his students. Through the story of a
youthful artist finding her poetic voice among literary giants, Spivack
thoughtfully considers how poets work. She looks at friendships, addiction,
despair, perseverance and survival, and how social changes altered lives and
circumstances. This is a beautifully written portrait of friends who loved and lived
words, and made great beauty together.
A touching and deeply revealing look into the lives and thoughts of some of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, With Robert Lowell and His Circle will appeal to writers, students, and thoughtful literary readers, as well as to scholars.
LAUNCH
Sunday, December 2,
2012, 4-6 p.m.
Co-hosted by the Harvard Bookstore and the Grolier Poetry
Bookshop
Refreshment, books, and celebration at both locations
The
Harvard Bookstore: 1256
Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 617-661-1515
The
Grolier Poetry Bookshop: 6
Plympton St, Cambridge, MA, 617-547-4648
Posts
i have long been a fan of kathleen spivack and have all of her books of poetry. i have had the honor to study with her in santa fe and paris. she is a national treasure!
ReplyDeletejeanne simonoff, santa fe
thank you Sandra for posting this. I am in awe of all the work you have done to maintain the life and work of Elizabeth Bishop. so we get to know her as a real hard working writer. Thank you again from all of us.We look forward to hosting you in Boston before too long.
ReplyDeleteAnd special thanks to my friend Jeanne- (see above) - you are so supportive and wonderful always-and a writer always.
love, Kathleen.