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Book Reviews of Orpheus in the Bronx: Essays on Identity, Politics, and the Freedom of Poetry (Poets on Poetry)

Orpheus in the Bronx: Essays on Identity, Politics, and the Freedom of Poetry (Poets on Poetry)
Orpheus in the Bronx Essays on Identity Politics and the Freedom of Poetry - Poets on Poetry
Author: Reginald Shepherd
ISBN-13: 9780472099986
ISBN-10: 0472099981
Publication Date: 1/8/2008
Pages: 208
Rating:
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Publisher: University of Michigan Press
Book Type: Hardcover
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Rev avatar reviewed Orpheus in the Bronx: Essays on Identity, Politics, and the Freedom of Poetry (Poets on Poetry) on + 95 more book reviews
Having never heard of Reginald Shepherd before picking up Orpheus in the Bronx, I was expecting nothing more than a collection of poems interspersed with dry musings on poetry and life. What I found myself immediately engrossed in, however, was a rich examination of the life and mind of a bold and unflinching artist.

In this collection of essays, Shepherd not only shares his thoughts on other poets and poetic forms; he also examines the personal influences on his own creative output. Partly autobiographical in nature, the book delves into the author's struggles as a child growing up in the ghetto, but existing and surviving as a gay black man as well. His recollections are both stark and poignant, and give the reader a better understanding of the poet's soul.

While knowing and understanding poetry will make certain sections of this book much more enjoyable, there is plenty of philosophy, civil/cultural debate, and insightful reflection to draw in intelligent readers of all creative backgrounds.