Poor translation..., 29 Mar 2006
The poet needs no introduction. However, the translation is, as another reviewer stated, apalling. The iambic pentameter/alexandrine dilemma has led to some turgid translations, with padding words added in for the sake of metre.

Sickly Flowers, 22 Aug 2003
Charles Baudelaire is one of the most technically exact and lyrical of all poets. One of the main problems with this otherwise superb book of his poems is the poor translation. James McGowan has taken Baudelaire's beautiful poetry and turned it into turgid writing. The quality of the translations is indicative of the poor scholarly standards that prevail in this era. The poems are almost perfect in the original, but so many liberties have been taken, often for the sake of finding a rhyme, that often the 'essense' as well as the meaning is lost. If James McGowan had refrained from translating Baudelaire's beautiful poetry, our world would be a better place.

excellent excellent excellent (and not incomprehensible), 03 May 2003
I've rated this 4 stars as it's the english version and so although it may be oxford world classics and therefore excellently transalted, some of the rhythm and rhyme of the poems will be lost, which often adds to its personality. The french version gets 5 stars.

Baudelaire wrote brilliant poetry, and it wasn't the stuff a gentleman could recline into his leather chair with his pipe with to relax in the 19th C without (unless he was totally thick) realising that a lot of the poems (especially in spleen and ideal) are focused mainly on the dark and rotting side of life. 'spleen' was for baudelaire a sort of depressive feeling of ennui and dark restlessness, and ideal its opposite; an ecstatic state of spiritual well-being. the collection of poems ranges between these opposing poles (it is generally thought that b was a manic depressive) and are beautiful.
a lot of people in my french lit class really disliked B; saying he was a weirdo and really disgusting - some of the images and themes are, but i think those people just couldn't confront/think about the dark side of life, which B translates into his poetry and knew so well.
having written all about how dark B's poetry is, and how some people find it depressing, i personally find some of them quite uplifting - for example in one lengthy poem about a corspe rotting in the sunshine, the poet contemplates how one day his body and soul will be reduced to such a state. but implicit in the poem is hat fact that the flowers in the surrounding field grow out of such rotten material, that life is cyclic and that almost nothing is eternal.
even if you're not used to poetry, i would recommend this, as long as you're not squeamish!

A collection of poems evoking 19th century bohemiancity life, 14 Apr 2000
Les Fleurs de Mal is a meditation of the problem of being moral in a new industrial society where the distinction between good and evil no longer seems to be a distinction that can be made. Some of the poems were banned when they were first composed but this collection restores them to their rightful place within the chapters. This is a pretty good translation of the poems although it does sacrifice some of the meaning of the lines in French in order to produce rhyme in English. Read this for a beautiful and striking evocation of bohemian life.

Poor translation..., 29 Mar 2006
The poet needs no introduction. However, the translation is, as another reviewer stated, apalling. The iambic pentameter/alexandrine dilemma has led to some turgid translations, with padding words added in for the sake of metre.

Sickly Flowers, 22 Aug 2003
Charles Baudelaire is one of the most technically exact and lyrical of all poets. One of the main problems with this otherwise superb book of his poems is the poor translation. James McGowan has taken Baudelaire's beautiful poetry and turned it into turgid writing. The quality of the translations is indicative of the poor scholarly standards that prevail in this era. The poems are almost perfect in the original, but so many liberties have been taken, often for the sake of finding a rhyme, that often the 'essense' as well as the meaning is lost. If James McGowan had refrained from translating Baudelaire's beautiful poetry, our world would be a better place.

excellent excellent excellent (and not incomprehensible), 03 May 2003
I've rated this 4 stars as it's the english version and so although it may be oxford world classics and therefore excellently transalted, some of the rhythm and rhyme of the poems will be lost, which often adds to its personality. The french version gets 5 stars.

Baudelaire wrote brilliant poetry, and it wasn't the stuff a gentleman could recline into his leather chair with his pipe with to relax in the 19th C without (unless he was totally thick) realising that a lot of the poems (especially in spleen and ideal) are focused mainly on the dark and rotting side of life. 'spleen' was for baudelaire a sort of depressive feeling of ennui and dark restlessness, and ideal its opposite; an ecstatic state of spiritual well-being. the collection of poems ranges between these opposing poles (it is generally thought that b was a manic depressive) and are beautiful.
a lot of people in my french lit class really disliked B; saying he was a weirdo and really disgusting - some of the images and themes are, but i think those people just couldn't confront/think about the dark side of life, which B translates into his poetry and knew so well.
having written all about how dark B's poetry is, and how some people find it depressing, i personally find some of them quite uplifting - for example in one lengthy poem about a corspe rotting in the sunshine, the poet contemplates how one day his body and soul will be reduced to such a state. but implicit in the poem is hat fact that the flowers in the surrounding field grow out of such rotten material, that life is cyclic and that almost nothing is eternal.
even if you're not used to poetry, i would recommend this, as long as you're not squeamish!

A collection of poems evoking 19th century bohemiancity life, 14 Apr 2000
Les Fleurs de Mal is a meditation of the problem of being moral in a new industrial society where the distinction between good and evil no longer seems to be a distinction that can be made. Some of the poems were banned when they were first composed but this collection restores them to their rightful place within the chapters. This is a pretty good translation of the poems although it does sacrifice some of the meaning of the lines in French in order to produce rhyme in English. Read this for a beautiful and striking evocation of bohemian life.

Excellent analysis of social function of 1 culture's poetry, 10 Jul 1998
Abu-Lughod looks at the role poetry plays in the lives of women in Bedouin society, as an alternative to the poetic tradition of the men and a way to communicate and validate experiences outside the morality imposed by the male dominated culture. What's most fascinating for me as a student of poetry is the implicit definition of poetry that Abu-Lughod gives us along the way--a poetry defined, as Sir Philip Sidney once argued, not by its form but by the role it plays in the culture.

Poor translation..., 29 Mar 2006
The poet needs no introduction. However, the translation is, as another reviewer stated, apalling. The iambic pentameter/alexandrine dilemma has led to some turgid translations, with padding words added in for the sake of metre.

Sickly Flowers, 22 Aug 2003
Charles Baudelaire is one of the most technically exact and lyrical of all poets. One of the main problems with this otherwise superb book of his poems is the poor translation. James McGowan has taken Baudelaire's beautiful poetry and turned it into turgid writing. The quality of the translations is indicative of the poor scholarly standards that prevail in this era. The poems are almost perfect in the original, but so many liberties have been taken, often for the sake of finding a rhyme, that often the 'essense' as well as the meaning is lost. If James McGowan had refrained from translating Baudelaire's beautiful poetry, our world would be a better place.

excellent excellent excellent (and not incomprehensible), 03 May 2003
I've rated this 4 stars as it's the english version and so although it may be oxford world classics and therefore excellently transalted, some of the rhythm and rhyme of the poems will be lost, which often adds to its personality. The french version gets 5 stars.

Baudelaire wrote brilliant poetry, and it wasn't the stuff a gentleman could recline into his leather chair with his pipe with to relax in the 19th C without (unless he was totally thick) realising that a lot of the poems (especially in spleen and ideal) are focused mainly on the dark and rotting side of life. 'spleen' was for baudelaire a sort of depressive feeling of ennui and dark restlessness, and ideal its opposite; an ecstatic state of spiritual well-being. the collection of poems ranges between these opposing poles (it is generally thought that b was a manic depressive) and are beautiful.
a lot of people in my french lit class really disliked B; saying he was a weirdo and really disgusting - some of the images and themes are, but i think those people just couldn't confront/think about the dark side of life, which B translates into his poetry and knew so well.
having written all about how dark B's poetry is, and how some people find it depressing, i personally find some of them quite uplifting - for example in one lengthy poem about a corspe rotting in the sunshine, the poet contemplates how one day his body and soul will be reduced to such a state. but implicit in the poem is hat fact that the flowers in the surrounding field grow out of such rotten material, that life is cyclic and that almost nothing is eternal.
even if you're not used to poetry, i would recommend this, as long as you're not squeamish!

A collection of poems evoking 19th century bohemiancity life, 14 Apr 2000
Les Fleurs de Mal is a meditation of the problem of being moral in a new industrial society where the distinction between good and evil no longer seems to be a distinction that can be made. Some of the poems were banned when they were first composed but this collection restores them to their rightful place within the chapters. This is a pretty good translation of the poems although it does sacrifice some of the meaning of the lines in French in order to produce rhyme in English. Read this for a beautiful and striking evocation of bohemian life.

Excellent analysis of social function of 1 culture's poetry, 10 Jul 1998
Abu-Lughod looks at the role poetry plays in the lives of women in Bedouin society, as an alternative to the poetic tradition of the men and a way to communicate and validate experiences outside the morality imposed by the male dominated culture. What's most fascinating for me as a student of poetry is the implicit definition of poetry that Abu-Lughod gives us along the way--a poetry defined, as Sir Philip Sidney once argued, not by its form but by the role it plays in the culture.

Beautifully written, 21 Sep 2005
I came across this book by accident. Wow it was a fab find!
I felt that Katherine had a wonderful way in describing the charactors, Val and Caroline. I was totally gripped from the start. I felt it was written in a way of admiration of a person who finally realised want she felt and wanted. This person not caring what was around them, but pure connection.

Retro erotica, 27 Mar 2005
Reading this is to to do a rewind to an American world where lesbian romance is furtive; where phrases such as "Welcome to the lesbian community!" are not laughed out of court; where disquisitions on modern art and male chauvinism can alternate with careful expositions of oral sex; and where nothing is politically-incorrectly penetrative but the orgasms are great. Lots of swimming pool tactile contact. Lots of enthused descriptions of flower paintings. Lots of struggling with feelings slightly late in life and realising your true self. Hey, this is 1986 and this is Los Angeles calling!

Definitely worth a night in with a bottle of wine, 27 Nov 2000
The developing relationship of the 2 main characters keeps you in anticipation - but is worth the wait.

Poor translation..., 29 Mar 2006
The poet needs no introduction. However, the translation is, as another reviewer stated, apalling. The iambic pentameter/alexandrine dilemma has led to some turgid translations, with padding words added in for the sake of metre.

Sickly Flowers, 22 Aug 2003
Charles Baudelaire is one of the most technically exact and lyrical of all poets. One of the main problems with this otherwise superb book of his poems is the poor translation. James McGowan has taken Baudelaire's beautiful poetry and turned it into turgid writing. The quality of the translations is indicative of the poor scholarly standards that prevail in this era. The poems are almost perfect in the original, but so many liberties have been taken, often for the sake of finding a rhyme, that often the 'essense' as well as the meaning is lost. If James McGowan had refrained from translating Baudelaire's beautiful poetry, our world would be a better place.

excellent excellent excellent (and not incomprehensible), 03 May 2003
I've rated this 4 stars as it's the english version and so although it may be oxford world classics and therefore excellently transalted, some of the rhythm and rhyme of the poems will be lost, which often adds to its personality. The french version gets 5 stars.

Baudelaire wrote brilliant poetry, and it wasn't the stuff a gentleman could recline into his leather chair with his pipe with to relax in the 19th C without (unless he was totally thick) realising that a lot of the poems (especially in spleen and ideal) are focused mainly on the dark and rotting side of life. 'spleen' was for baudelaire a sort of depressive feeling of ennui and dark restlessness, and ideal its opposite; an ecstatic state of spiritual well-being. the collection of poems ranges between these opposing poles (it is generally thought that b was a manic depressive) and are beautiful.
a lot of people in my french lit class really disliked B; saying he was a weirdo and really disgusting - some of the images and themes are, but i think those people just couldn't confront/think about the dark side of life, which B translates into his poetry and knew so well.
having written all about how dark B's poetry is, and how some people find it depressing, i personally find some of them quite uplifting - for example in one lengthy poem about a corspe rotting in the sunshine, the poet contemplates how one day his body and soul will be reduced to such a state. but implicit in the poem is hat fact that the flowers in the surrounding field grow out of such rotten material, that life is cyclic and that almost nothing is eternal.
even if you're not used to poetry, i would recommend this, as long as you're not squeamish!

A collection of poems evoking 19th century bohemiancity life, 14 Apr 2000
Les Fleurs de Mal is a meditation of the problem of being moral in a new industrial society where the distinction between good and evil no longer seems to be a distinction that can be made. Some of the poems were banned when they were first composed but this collection restores them to their rightful place within the chapters. This is a pretty good translation of the poems although it does sacrifice some of the meaning of the lines in French in order to produce rhyme in English. Read this for a beautiful and striking evocation of bohemian life.

Excellent analysis of social function of 1 culture's poetry, 10 Jul 1998
Abu-Lughod looks at the role poetry plays in the lives of women in Bedouin society, as an alternative to the poetic tradition of the men and a way to communicate and validate experiences outside the morality imposed by the male dominated culture. What's most fascinating for me as a student of poetry is the implicit definition of poetry that Abu-Lughod gives us along the way--a poetry defined, as Sir Philip Sidney once argued, not by its form but by the role it plays in the culture.

Beautifully written, 21 Sep 2005
I came across this book by accident. Wow it was a fab find!
I felt that Katherine had a wonderful way in describing the charactors, Val and Caroline. I was totally gripped from the start. I felt it was written in a way of admiration of a person who finally realised want she felt and wanted. This person not caring what was around them, but pure connection.

Retro erotica, 27 Mar 2005
Reading this is to to do a rewind to an American world where lesbian romance is furtive; where phrases such as "Welcome to the lesbian community!" are not laughed out of court; where disquisitions on modern art and male chauvinism can alternate with careful expositions of oral sex; and where nothing is politically-incorrectly penetrative but the orgasms are great. Lots of swimming pool tactile contact. Lots of enthused descriptions of flower paintings. Lots of struggling with feelings slightly late in life and realising your true self. Hey, this is 1986 and this is Los Angeles calling!

Definitely worth a night in with a bottle of wine, 27 Nov 2000
The developing relationship of the 2 main characters keeps you in anticipation - but is worth the wait.

Must have!, 17 Jul 2001
This novel in the form of poems is amazing not only because of its unusual form but also because of its potency. The work is vibrant and exciting; you will be on the edge of your pillow. Porter's words leap off the page. The poems stand alone and yet hang together. Great performance poetry, especially if Porter herself is delivering. This book HAS to be experienced. Poetry erupts in this one!

Poor translation..., 29 Mar 2006
The poet needs no introduction. However, the translation is, as another reviewer stated, apalling. The iambic pentameter/alexandrine dilemma has led to some turgid translations, with padding words added in for the sake of metre.

Sickly Flowers, 22 Aug 2003
Charles Baudelaire is one of the most technically exact and lyrical of all poets. One of the main problems with this otherwise superb book of his poems is the poor translation. James McGowan has taken Baudelaire's beautiful poetry and turned it into turgid writing. The quality of the translations is indicative of the poor scholarly standards that prevail in this era. The poems are almost perfect in the original, but so many liberties have been taken, often for the sake of finding a rhyme, that often the 'essense' as well as the meaning is lost. If James McGowan had refrained from translating Baudelaire's beautiful poetry, our world would be a better place.

excellent excellent excellent (and not incomprehensible), 03 May 2003
I've rated this 4 stars as it's the english version and so although it may be oxford world classics and therefore excellently transalted, some of the rhythm and rhyme of the poems will be lost, which often adds to its personality. The french version gets 5 stars.

Baudelaire wrote brilliant poetry, and it wasn't the stuff a gentleman could recline into his leather chair with his pipe with to relax in the 19th C without (unless he was totally thick) realising that a lot of the poems (especially in spleen and ideal) are focused mainly on the dark and rotting side of life. 'spleen' was for baudelaire a sort of depressive feeling of ennui and dark restlessness, and ideal its opposite; an ecstatic state of spiritual well-being. the collection of poems ranges between these opposing poles (it is generally thought that b was a manic depressive) and are beautiful.
a lot of people in my french lit class really disliked B; saying he was a weirdo and really disgusting - some of the images and themes are, but i think those people just couldn't confront/think about the dark side of life, which B translates into his poetry and knew so well.
having written all about how dark B's poetry is, and how some people find it depressing, i personally find some of them quite uplifting - for example in one lengthy poem about a corspe rotting in the sunshine, the poet contemplates how one day his body and soul will be reduced to such a state. but implicit in the poem is hat fact that the flowers in the surrounding field grow out of such rotten material, that life is cyclic and that almost nothing is eternal.
even if you're not used to poetry, i would recommend this, as long as you're not squeamish!

A collection of poems evoking 19th century bohemiancity life, 14 Apr 2000
Les Fleurs de Mal is a meditation of the problem of being moral in a new industrial society where the distinction between good and evil no longer seems to be a distinction that can be made. Some of the poems were banned when they were first composed but this collection restores them to their rightful place within the chapters. This is a pretty good translation of the poems although it does sacrifice some of the meaning of the lines in French in order to produce rhyme in English. Read this for a beautiful and striking evocation of bohemian life.

Excellent analysis of social function of 1 culture's poetry, 10 Jul 1998
Abu-Lughod looks at the role poetry plays in the lives of women in Bedouin society, as an alternative to the poetic tradition of the men and a way to communicate and validate experiences outside the morality imposed by the male dominated culture. What's most fascinating for me as a student of poetry is the implicit definition of poetry that Abu-Lughod gives us along the way--a poetry defined, as Sir Philip Sidney once argued, not by its form but by the role it plays in the culture.

Beautifully written, 21 Sep 2005
I came across this book by accident. Wow it was a fab find!
I felt that Katherine had a wonderful way in describing the charactors, Val and Caroline. I was totally gripped from the start. I felt it was written in a way of admiration of a person who finally realised want she felt and wanted. This person not caring what was around them, but pure connection.

Retro erotica, 27 Mar 2005
Reading this is to to do a rewind to an American world where lesbian romance is furtive; where phrases such as "Welcome to the lesbian community!" are not laughed out of court; where disquisitions on modern art and male chauvinism can alternate with careful expositions of oral sex; and where nothing is politically-incorrectly penetrative but the orgasms are great. Lots of swimming pool tactile contact. Lots of enthused descriptions of flower paintings. Lots of struggling with feelings slightly late in life and realising your true self. Hey, this is 1986 and this is Los Angeles calling!

Definitely worth a night in with a bottle of wine, 27 Nov 2000
The developing relationship of the 2 main characters keeps you in anticipation - but is worth the wait.

Must have!, 17 Jul 2001
This novel in the form of poems is amazing not only because of its unusual form but also because of its potency. The work is vibrant and exciting; you will be on the edge of your pillow. Porter's words leap off the page. The poems stand alone and yet hang together. Great performance poetry, especially if Porter herself is delivering. This book HAS to be experienced. Poetry erupts in this one!

Reading through the life of Audre Lorde, 16 Aug 2005
In Warrior Poet, Alexis De Veaux breaks through the myths and iconic status of Lorde and takes us on a journey of Lorde's transformation from lesbian "gal" to poet, social activist, cancer survivor and finally black feminist lesbian warrior poet. A homage to a great Black lesbian feminist - no one has come near Audre Lorde as yet - De Veaux is nonetheless brave enough to give us details of the not so pleasant side of Lorde such as her taking of amphetamines and bouts of abusive anger. She also lays open Lorde's relationship to white women which up to the last 10 years, dominated her friendships and affairs and her somewhat ambivalent relationship to Black women. All of which makes Lorde even more of an exceptional human being given that she had flaws like the rest of us.

An excellent first biography which has inspired me to revisit the works of Audre Lorde starting with the Cancer Journals. I begin with Cancer Journals because here I have a shared experience of the "fear, anger and disempowerment" that comes with breast cancer and the courage that comes with being a survivor. Alongside reading the essays, I am reading her poems which as well as being inspirational are a journal of her feelings and reflections on life.

Poor translation..., 29 Mar 2006
The poet needs no introduction. However, the translation is, as another reviewer stated, apalling. The iambic pentameter/alexandrine dilemma has led to some turgid translations, with padding words added in for the sake of metre.

Sickly Flowers, 22 Aug 2003
Charles Baudelaire is one of the most technically exact and lyrical of all poets. One of the main problems with this otherwise superb book of his poems is the poor translation. James McGowan has taken Baudelaire's beautiful poetry and turned it into turgid writing. The quality of the translations is indicative of the poor scholarly standards that prevail in this era. The poems are almost perfect in the original, but so many liberties have been taken, often for the sake of finding a rhyme, that often the 'essense' as well as the meaning is lost. If James McGowan had refrained from translating Baudelaire's beautiful poetry, our world would be a better place.

excellent excellent excellent (and not incomprehensible), 03 May 2003
I've rated this 4 stars as it's the english version and so although it may be oxford world classics and therefore excellently transalted, some of the rhythm and rhyme of the poems will be lost, which often adds to its personality. The french version gets 5 stars.

Baudelaire wrote brilliant poetry, and it wasn't the stuff a gentleman could recline into his leather chair with his pipe with to relax in the 19th C without (unless he was totally thick) realising that a lot of the poems (especially in spleen and ideal) are focused mainly on the dark and rotting side of life. 'spleen' was for baudelaire a sort of depressive feeling of ennui and dark restlessness, and ideal its opposite; an ecstatic state of spiritual well-being. the collection of poems ranges between these opposing poles (it is generally thought that b was a manic depressive) and are beautiful.
a lot of people in my french lit class really disliked B; saying he was a weirdo and really disgusting - some of the images and themes are, but i think those people just couldn't confront/think about the dark side of life, which B translates into his poetry and knew so well.
having written all about how dark B's poetry is, and how some people find it depressing, i personally find some of them quite uplifting - for example in one lengthy poem about a corspe rotting in the sunshine, the poet contemplates how one day his body and soul will be reduced to such a state. but implicit in the poem is hat fact that the flowers in the surrounding field grow out of such rotten material, that life is cyclic and that almost nothing is eternal.
even if you're not used to poetry, i would recommend this, as long as you're not squeamish!

A collection of poems evoking 19th century bohemiancity life, 14 Apr 2000
Les Fleurs de Mal is a meditation of the problem of being moral in a new industrial society where the distinction between good and evil no longer seems to be a distinction that can be made. Some of the poems were banned when they were first composed but this collection restores them to their rightful place within the chapters. This is a pretty good translation of the poems although it does sacrifice some of the meaning of the lines in French in order to produce rhyme in English. Read this for a beautiful and striking evocation of bohemian life.

Excellent analysis of social function of 1 culture's poetry, 10 Jul 1998
Abu-Lughod looks at the role poetry plays in the lives of women in Bedouin society, as an alternative to the poetic tradition of the men and a way to communicate and validate experiences outside the morality imposed by the male dominated culture. What's most fascinating for me as a student of poetry is the implicit definition of poetry that Abu-Lughod gives us along the way--a poetry defined, as Sir Philip Sidney once argued, not by its form but by the role it plays in the culture.

Beautifully written, 21 Sep 2005
I came across this book by accident. Wow it was a fab find!
I felt that Katherine had a wonderful way in describing the charactors, Val and Caroline. I was totally gripped from the start. I felt it was written in a way of admiration of a person who finally realised want she felt and wanted. This person not caring what was around them, but pure connection.

Retro erotica, 27 Mar 2005
Reading this is to to do a rewind to an American world where lesbian romance is furtive; where phrases such as "Welcome to the lesbian community!" are not laughed out of court; where disquisitions on modern art and male chauvinism can alternate with careful expositions of oral sex; and where nothing is politically-incorrectly penetrative but the orgasms are great. Lots of swimming pool tactile contact. Lots of enthused descriptions of flower paintings. Lots of struggling with feelings slightly late in life and realising your true self. Hey, this is 1986 and this is Los Angeles calling!

Definitely worth a night in with a bottle of wine, 27 Nov 2000
The developing relationship of the 2 main characters keeps you in anticipation - but is worth the wait.

Must have!, 17 Jul 2001
This novel in the form of poems is amazing not only because of its unusual form but also because of its potency. The work is vibrant and exciting; you will be on the edge of your pillow. Porter's words leap off the page. The poems stand alone and yet hang together. Great performance poetry, especially if Porter herself is delivering. This book HAS to be experienced. Poetry erupts in this one!

Reading through the life of Audre Lorde, 16 Aug 2005
In Warrior Poet, Alexis De Veaux breaks through the myths and iconic status of Lorde and takes us on a journey of Lorde's transformation from lesbian "gal" to poet, social activist, cancer survivor and finally black feminist lesbian warrior poet. A homage to a great Black lesbian feminist - no one has come near Audre Lorde as yet - De Veaux is nonetheless brave enough to give us details of the not so pleasant side of Lorde such as her taking of amphetamines and bouts of abusive anger. She also lays open Lorde's relationship to white women which up to the last 10 years, dominated her friendships and affairs and her somewhat ambivalent relationship to Black women. All of which makes Lorde even more of an exceptional human being given that she had flaws like the rest of us.

An excellent first biography which has inspired me to revisit the works of Audre Lorde starting with the Cancer Journals. I begin with Cancer Journals because here I have a shared experience of the "fear, anger and disempowerment" that comes with breast cancer and the courage that comes with being a survivor. Alongside reading the essays, I am reading her poems which as well as being inspirational are a journal of her feelings and reflections on life.

Jack Spicer was not a Beat poet., 25 Aug 1998
I have read Poet Be Like God, and I wish neither to rate it (but there's no option available that allows one to opt out of the rating game) nor review it, but to make a correction to the idiotic Kirkus review: Jack Spicer was NOT a "Beat" poet. There were a group of Beat poets in San Francisco in the late 1950s, early 1960s (e.g.,Bob Kaufman), but Spicer wasn't one of them. His intentions in poetry were different from theirs; naturally, so was his aesthetic. Spicer was part of a triumverate of poets that included Robert Duncan and Robin Blaser who met at the end of World War II in Berkeley, Ca., and were sometimes known as the Berkeley Renaissance group, or more simply, and more accurately, as part of the San Francisco poetry scene (which was part of the New American Poetry movement). That the Kirkus reviewer could make such an elementary and stupid mistake should be taken as a clear indicator of the idiocy of the rest of the Kirkus piece of schlock.

Important biography of crucial postmodern poet, 04 Jun 1998
I find that the Kirkus review available here does ill-service to this important biography of Jack Spicer. One would have no inkling, from reading this review, that Spicer's poetry is one of the most influential sources for postmodern poetry and poetics in the 1990s. It is not some recent academic fad to study Spicer; rather, Spicer has been a crucial poet for many younger writers for over three decades. This biography, published at the same time with his collected lectures, should provide the opportunity for even more serious study of his work.

Poor translation..., 29 Mar 2006
The poet needs no introduction. However, the translation is, as another reviewer stated, apalling. The iambic pentameter/alexandrine dilemma has led to some turgid translations, with padding words added in for the sake of metre.

Sickly Flowers, 22 Aug 2003
Charles Baudelaire is one of the most technically exact and lyrical of all poets. One of the main problems with this otherwise superb book of his poems is the poor translation. James McGowan has taken Baudelaire's beautiful poetry and turned it into turgid writing. The quality of the translations is indicative of the poor scholarly standards that prevail in this era. The poems are almost perfect in the original, but so many liberties have been taken, often for the sake of finding a rhyme, that often the 'essense' as well as the meaning is lost. If James McGowan had refrained from translating Baudelaire's beautiful poetry, our world would be a better place.

excellent excellent excellent (and not incomprehensible), 03 May 2003
I've rated this 4 stars as it's the english version and so although it may be oxford world classics and therefore excellently transalted, some of the rhythm and rhyme of the poems will be lost, which often adds to its personality. The french version gets 5 stars.

Baudelaire wrote brilliant poetry, and it wasn't the stuff a gentleman could recline into his leather chair with his pipe with to relax in the 19th C without (unless he was totally thick) realising that a lot of the poems (especially in spleen and ideal) are focused mainly on the dark and rotting side of life. 'spleen' was for baudelaire a sort of depressive feeling of ennui and dark restlessness, and ideal its opposite; an ecstatic state of spiritual well-being. the collection of poems ranges between these opposing poles (it is generally thought that b was a manic depressive) and are beautiful.
a lot of people in my french lit class really disliked B; saying he was a weirdo and really disgusting - some of the images and themes are, but i think those people just couldn't confront/think about the dark side of life, which B translates into his poetry and knew so well.
having written all about how dark B's poetry is, and how some people find it depressing, i personally find some of them quite uplifting - for example in one lengthy poem about a corspe rotting in the sunshine, the poet contemplates how one day his body and soul will be reduced to such a state. but implicit in the poem is hat fact that the flowers in the surrounding field grow out of such rotten material, that life is cyclic and that almost nothing is eternal.
even if you're not used to poetry, i would recommend this, as long as you're not squeamish!

A collection of poems evoking 19th century bohemiancity life, 14 Apr 2000
Les Fleurs de Mal is a meditation of the problem of being moral in a new industrial society where the distinction between good and evil no longer seems to be a distinction that can be made. Some of the poems were banned when they were first composed but this collection restores them to their rightful place within the chapters. This is a pretty good translation of the poems although it does sacrifice some of the meaning of the lines in French in order to produce rhyme in English. Read this for a beautiful and striking evocation of bohemian life.

Excellent analysis of social function of 1 culture's poetry, 10 Jul 1998
Abu-Lughod looks at the role poetry plays in the lives of women in Bedouin society, as an alternative to the poetic tradition of the men and a way to communicate and validate experiences outside the morality imposed by the male dominated culture. What's most fascinating for me as a student of poetry is the implicit definition of poetry that Abu-Lughod gives us along the way--a poetry defined, as Sir Philip Sidney once argued, not by its form but by the role it plays in the culture.

Beautifully written, 21 Sep 2005
I came across this book by accident. Wow it was a fab find!
I felt that Katherine had a wonderful way in describing the charactors, Val and Caroline. I was totally gripped from the start. I felt it was written in a way of admiration of a person who finally realised want she felt and wanted. This person not caring what was around them, but pure connection.

Retro erotica, 27 Mar 2005
Reading this is to to do a rewind to an American world where lesbian romance is furtive; where phrases such as "Welcome to the lesbian community!" are not laughed out of court; where disquisitions on modern art and male chauvinism can alternate with careful expositions of oral sex; and where nothing is politically-incorrectly penetrative but the orgasms are great. Lots of swimming pool tactile contact. Lots of enthused descriptions of flower paintings. Lots of struggling with feelings slightly late in life and realising your true self. Hey, this is 1986 and this is Los Angeles calling!

Definitely worth a night in with a bottle of wine, 27 Nov 2000
The developing relationship of the 2 main characters keeps you in anticipation - but is worth the wait.

Must have!, 17 Jul 2001
This novel in the form of poems is amazing not only because of its unusual form but also because of its potency. The work is vibrant and exciting; you will be on the edge of your pillow. Porter's words leap off the page. The poems stand alone and yet hang together. Great performance poetry, especially if Porter herself is delivering. This book HAS to be experienced. Poetry erupts in this one!

Reading through the life of Audre Lorde, 16 Aug 2005
In Warrior Poet, Alexis De Veaux breaks through the myths and iconic status of Lorde and takes us on a journey of Lorde's transformation from lesbian "gal" to poet, social activist, cancer survivor and finally black feminist lesbian warrior poet. A homage to a great Black lesbian feminist - no one has come near Audre Lorde as yet - De Veaux is nonetheless brave enough to give us details of the not so pleasant side of Lorde such as her taking of amphetamines and bouts of abusive anger. She also lays open Lorde's relationship to white women which up to the last 10 years, dominated her friendships and affairs and her somewhat ambivalent relationship to Black women. All of which makes Lorde even more of an exceptional human being given that she had flaws like the rest of us.

An excellent first biography which has inspired me to revisit the works of Audre Lorde starting with the Cancer Journals. I begin with Cancer Journals because here I have a shared experience of the "fear, anger and disempowerment" that comes with breast cancer and the courage that comes with being a survivor. Alongside reading the essays, I am reading her poems which as well as being inspirational are a journal of her feelings and reflections on life.

Jack Spicer was not a Beat poet., 25 Aug 1998
I have read Poet Be Like God, and I wish neither to rate it (but there's no option available that allows one to opt out of the rating game) nor review it, but to make a correction to the idiotic Kirkus review: Jack Spicer was NOT a "Beat" poet. There were a group of Beat poets in San Francisco in the late 1950s, early 1960s (e.g.,Bob Kaufman), but Spicer wasn't one of them. His intentions in poetry were different from theirs; naturally, so was his aesthetic. Spicer was part of a triumverate of poets that included Robert Duncan and Robin Blaser who met at the end of World War II in Berkeley, Ca., and were sometimes known as the Berkeley Renaissance group, or more simply, and more accurately, as part of the San Francisco poetry scene (which was part of the New American Poetry movement). That the Kirkus reviewer could make such an elementary and stupid mistake should be taken as a clear indicator of the idiocy of the rest of the Kirkus piece of schlock.

Important biography of crucial postmodern poet, 04 Jun 1998
I find that the Kirkus review available here does ill-service to this important biography of Jack Spicer. One would have no inkling, from reading this review, that Spicer's poetry is one of the most influential sources for postmodern poetry and poetics in the 1990s. It is not some recent academic fad to study Spicer; rather, Spicer has been a crucial poet for many younger writers for over three decades. This biography, published at the same time with his collected lectures, should provide the opportunity for even more serious study of his work.

Excellent , 19 Jan 2007
In The Sappho History, Reynolds looks not at Sappho, but at the reflections and refractions of Sappho from the mid-18th century to today. Not a classicist herself, she has a refreshing way of reading both the poetry and the iconic status of Sappho that sends you back both to the poetry and the responses of antiquity with a new view.

Apart from her own personal responses and insights, Reynolds writes marvellously, so that her prose is a pleasure to read in its own right. The only area that I found disconcertingly missing was the surprising one of gender: what does it mean, and how does it (should it?) change our interpretation that male writers appropriate the subject position of a Greek woman?

Still, this is an excellent, stimulating book, which also has good production values, making it a pleasure to hold as well as to read.