The New American Poetry 1945–1960 is a poetry anthology edited by Donald Allen and published in 1960.[1] It aimed to pick out the "third generation" of American modernist poets, and included quite a number of poems fresh from the little magazines of the late 1950s. In the longer term it attained a classic status, with critical approval and continuing sales. It was reprinted in 1999. As of 2024, Edward Field and Gary Snyder are the only contributors still living.
In 1958, Allen began work on The New American Poetry anthology. Following the Pound/Williams tradition, Allen hoped to present the range of experimental writing produced in the United States since the Second World War. The project took two years to complete and required extensive correspondence with poets, editors, and literary agents. The book was finally published in 1960, and, in addition to the poems, included a brief Preface by Allen, position-statements by some of the contributors, biographical notes, and an Index. Other considerations were taken into account in the organization of this anthology, as the following quotation illustrates:
Those included in this ground-breaking anthology were chosen from among about three distinct groupings: Black Mountain, New York School, and San Francisco Renaissance.[2] In the first group--Creeley, Blackburn, Duncan, Eigner, Levertov, Olson, Oppenheimer, Dorn, Wieners and Jonathan Williams. Among the second: Ashbery, Guest, O'Hara, Schuyler, Koch. From San Francisco: Spicer, Ginsberg, Whalen, Welch, Snyder, Meltzer, Lamantia, Loewinsohn, Everson (Brother Antoninus), Broughton, McClure, etc. Also present, though perhaps slightly less affiliated: Field, Corso, Sorrentino. So divided was the literary politics of the day that not one of these voices appeared in its parallel anthology, the Hall-Pack-Simpson volume. A tribute to Allen's prescience is that nearly every poet in this gathering is now a familiar figure.[3]
At the time of its publication, it increased the recognition for the Black Mountain poets - especially Robert Duncan, Robert Creeley, Denise Levertov, Paul Blackburn, and Charles Olson - by identifying their contributions to a distinct literary movement,[4] making them recognized figures in what was then an emerging countertradition.[5] Allen originally planned to publish revised anthologies every two or three years. However, he produced only two such books over the next twenty years: New American Writing (Penguin, 1965), and The Postmoderns (Grove, 1965).[6]
The anthology was also influential in Canada. "It affected the writing of at least one generation of Canadian poets", according to The Canadian Encyclopedia. The anthology influenced many Canadian poets to turn away from British influences and toward American models.[7]
^Schutz, Lacy (2017-07-26), "Black Mountain Poetry", Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature, doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190201098.013.580, ISBN978-0-19-020109-8, retrieved 2024-02-16
^Today, The New American Poetry is recognized both as a cultural artifact and signpost for future generations. In other words, a poetry originating with Ezra Pound, William Carlos Williams, Louis Zukofsky and expanding through the lives and works of Olson, George Oppen & the "Objectivists", Duncan, Creeley, Allen Ginsberg, Levertov, and others (specifically post-World War II), in turn extending toward the Language poets among others
^"Register of Donald Allen Collection - MSS 3". libraries.ucsd.edu. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
^Barbour, Douglas, and D.M.R. Bentley, W. J. Keith, Michael Gnarowski,, article in The Canadian Encyclopedia, retrieved February 8, 2009
External linksedit
Great Anthology: The New American Poetry: 1945–1960 article at "The Academy of American Poets" website
Tribute to Donald M. Allen at Empty Mirror Books website
Ron Silliman discusses Donald Allen’s The New American Poetry from Silliman's Blog: June 11, 2007. Writes Silliman: "unquestionably the most influential single anthology of the last century. It’s a great book, an epoch-making one in many ways."
March 17, 2024
american, poetry, 1945, 1960, poetry, anthology, edited, donald, allen, published, 1960, aimed, pick, third, generation, american, modernist, poets, included, quite, number, poems, fresh, from, little, magazines, late, 1950s, longer, term, attained, classic, s. The New American Poetry 1945 1960 is a poetry anthology edited by Donald Allen and published in 1960 1 It aimed to pick out the third generation of American modernist poets and included quite a number of poems fresh from the little magazines of the late 1950s In the longer term it attained a classic status with critical approval and continuing sales It was reprinted in 1999 As of 2024 Edward Field and Gary Snyder are the only contributors still living The New American Poetry 1945 1960First editionAuthorDonald Allen editor CountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenrepoetry anthologyPublisherNY Grove PressPublication dateMay 29 1960 Contents 1 Overview 2 See also 3 Notes 4 External linksOverview editIn 1958 Allen began work on The New American Poetry anthology Following the Pound Williams tradition Allen hoped to present the range of experimental writing produced in the United States since the Second World War The project took two years to complete and required extensive correspondence with poets editors and literary agents The book was finally published in 1960 and in addition to the poems included a brief Preface by Allen position statements by some of the contributors biographical notes and an Index Other considerations were taken into account in the organization of this anthology as the following quotation illustrates Those included in this ground breaking anthology were chosen from among about three distinct groupings Black Mountain New York School and San Francisco Renaissance 2 In the first group Creeley Blackburn Duncan Eigner Levertov Olson Oppenheimer Dorn Wieners and Jonathan Williams Among the second Ashbery Guest O Hara Schuyler Koch From San Francisco Spicer Ginsberg Whalen Welch Snyder Meltzer Lamantia Loewinsohn Everson Brother Antoninus Broughton McClure etc Also present though perhaps slightly less affiliated Field Corso Sorrentino So divided was the literary politics of the day that not one of these voices appeared in its parallel anthology the Hall Pack Simpson volume A tribute to Allen s prescience is that nearly every poet in this gathering is now a familiar figure 3 At the time of its publication it increased the recognition for the Black Mountain poets especially Robert Duncan Robert Creeley Denise Levertov Paul Blackburn and Charles Olson by identifying their contributions to a distinct literary movement 4 making them recognized figures in what was then an emerging countertradition 5 Allen originally planned to publish revised anthologies every two or three years However he produced only two such books over the next twenty years New American Writing Penguin 1965 and The Postmoderns Grove 1965 6 The anthology was also influential in Canada It affected the writing of at least one generation of Canadian poets according to The Canadian Encyclopedia The anthology influenced many Canadian poets to turn away from British influences and toward American models 7 See also editCharters Ann ed The Portable Beat Reader Penguin Books New York 1992 ISBN 0 670 83885 3 hc ISBN 0 14 015102 8 pbk Notes edit Allen Donald M 1960 The New American Poetry New York Grove Press ISBN 0394172256 OCLC 263411449 Retrieved 27 November 2021 perhaps of tangential consideration the rubric New American Poetry also refers to poets of the Beat Generation Description from a bookseller dead link Schutz Lacy 2017 07 26 Black Mountain Poetry Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature doi 10 1093 acrefore 9780190201098 013 580 ISBN 978 0 19 020109 8 retrieved 2024 02 16 Today The New American Poetry is recognized both as a cultural artifact and signpost for future generations In other words a poetry originating with Ezra Pound William Carlos Williams Louis Zukofsky and expanding through the lives and works of Olson George Oppen amp the Objectivists Duncan Creeley Allen Ginsberg Levertov and others specifically post World War II in turn extending toward the Language poets among others Register of Donald Allen Collection MSS 3 libraries ucsd edu Retrieved 2015 06 06 Barbour Douglas and D M R Bentley W J Keith Michael Gnarowski The New Generation After 1960 article in The Canadian Encyclopedia retrieved February 8 2009External links editGreat Anthology The New American Poetry 1945 1960 article at The Academy of American Poets website Whose New American Poetry article by Marjorie Perloff Tribute to Donald M Allen at Empty Mirror Books website Ron Silliman discusses Donald Allen s The New American Poetry from Silliman s Blog June 11 2007 Writes Silliman unquestionably the most influential single anthology of the last century It s a great book an epoch making one in many ways Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The New American Poetry 1945 1960 amp oldid 1210979696, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
