Review by Choice Review
Carson (b. 1950), who flourishes in so many genres and anti-genres, is a classics professor, a brilliant essayist and scholar, a video artist, a poet, a philosopher, and a dramatist. Wilkinson (Univ. of Arizona) offers here a unique collection of 32 essays, meditations, and poetic responses to Carson's work. The contributions are as groundbreaking and unusual as Carson's work itself, presenting multiple modes of interpretation that defy the genre of literary criticism. Wilkinson insists in his fine introduction that Carson "obliterate genre itself from the inside out," which is exactly what these essays and anti-essays do. Most of the authors are poets, and they often react to Carson's opus in impressionistic, metaphoric language, playing freely with the conventions of the formal essay, creating a multiplicity of voices and approaches to her work. Carson's work begs for this kind of polyphonic reply, which creates a most appropriate accompaniment to the work of one of the most enigmatic of artists. Also included is a more grounded interview with Carson. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals. --Jill Pelaez Baumgaertner, Wheaton College (IL)
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
