Library of America is a venerable publisher in preserving the American literary heritage and when it publishes an anthology that suggests to go to “The Heart of American Poetry,” it raises the expectations and excites the lovers of the U.S. literary tradition. However, very soon it becomes clear that it should have been subtitled “Personal Anthology” for the anthology in many ways reflects Hirsch’s personal taste and choices. In his introduction, Hirsch sheds some light on his intimate understanding of what constitutes the American poetic tradition. He is also open that he worked on this anthology during the Covid-19 quarantine that prevented him from accessing his library and forced him to rely on his memory. I think that these two factors contributed to some of the weaknesses of this anthology.

There are many strengths, above all in Hirsch’s perceptive readings of individual poems. Some essays are almost entirely his commentaries on the selected poems and a reader would not find much more about Robert Frost or Wallace Stevens as poets, for example, except for an astute analysis of a single poem (by each) of his choice. The strongest chapters, however, also discuss the poems in the context of the poet’s overall writings and life, literary influences, and general socio-cultural currents.

While a number of major poets are well represented, there is evidently quite an idiosyncratic inclusion as well as exclusion of others. It is certainly welcome to present the so-called ”minor” poets whose valuable contribution is convincingly argued in his essays, such as Emma Lazarus, Robert Johnson or Julia de Burgos. But it is mystifying that Hirsch opted for a number of other lesser known poets without a broader justification except for essaying on his personal connections, while bypassing the acknowledged greats, someone like Robert Lowell, or, from the 19th century, Edgar Alan Poe and Emerson, all of whom have made an important imprint on the American canon.

One of the noble guiding ideas is that Hirsch “tried to remain conscious of our diversiform ancestry and heritage” (p. xvi). And, in light of the recent rise of an anti-immigrant wave, Hirsch makes a powerful and commendable statement by including “The New Colossus” penned by Emma Lazarus and inscribed in the pedestal of The Statue of Liberty. But then the immigrant theme with its major bilingual representatives, such as Brodsky or Simic, both of whom were elected as US Poet Laurates, is mostly ignored.

If Hirsch wanted to present different and complex social, historical, and cultural currents in America as reflected in its poetry, which is clear from his essays, then this project only partly succeeded as the poets from the West Coast, Midwest and the South are scarcely presented. There is also a certain measure of inconsistency. For example, Hirsch takes a refreshing approach to American poetry that “moves fluently between speech and song” in an included song by the blues singer Robert Johnson, but then it would have been apt to include Bob Dylan (even referred to in the context of the blues heritage, p. 229) or Lou Reed (also mentioned in the introduction with the quoted lyrics on p. xxv) who lent the same voice to a different generation.

The choice of poems is also occasionally idiosyncratic, foregoing some of the greatest poems for lesser known ones and, as such, the anthology does not quite fit its description as a collection of “forty essential American poems.” Theodore Roethke’s “My Pappa’sWaltz”, one of his most anthologized poems, is arguably more “essential” for this poet than his “Cuttings.” Or Marianne Moore’s famous two versions of “The Poetry” are foregone for “The Steeple-Jack”, as good as it is.

Overall, the anthology succeeds in those brilliant essays when Hirsch is less personal, but its idiosyncrasy still gets in the way to call it “The Heart of American Poetry.”

My thanks to the publisher, Library of America, for an ARC via NetGalley.

3.5/5

Some wonderful poems in this collection. I really enjoyed the authors writing style and the flow of each poem. Poems are always a great break from my typical reading and I genuinely liked this book.

This was a lovely collection, well-curated. Hirsch's introducrtion set the right tone, and remains accessible to students and long-time poetry lovers alike.

He notes that he has "found it heartening to write this book about American poetry at a disheartening time in our republic, a time of broken promises. These poems hold us to a standard and remind us of the sacredness of the individual life, the single testamentary".

Each poem is followed by a commentary and meditation on why it is representative of American culture.

I also appreciate that he's taken care to include female poets and poets of color, in addtion to more canonical poets.

An essential guide for devotees of poetry-greats such as Dickinson, Eliot, Frost, Hayden, Hughes, Melville, and Plath.
Hirsch offers original reflections, insights, and revelations of some of their most compelling work – a single poem from each of their respective canons. Each poem offers a statement on American culture and society that truly resonates.
Thanks to NetGalley and Library of America for granting this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Heart of American Poetry is an insightful evaluation of poetry across the ages in American history. From greats like Frost and Dickinson to well-known poems like The New Colossus to lesser-known gems, Hirsch dives deeply into the context behind each piece. He gracefully explores the connections between poet and poem, the technical prowess of the piece, and the timing of the poem's writing and release, showing the reader exactly why the piece is important and where it stands in the annals of literary history.

The analyses can be long-winded at times, stretching into the poets' personal lives and histories more than is strictly necessary. The terms used to describe the poems are extremely technical in places, leading the breakdowns of mechanics to be inaccessible to beginning readers. Still, this does not mean the writing is flawed; the collection is simply aimed at a more academic audience.

Sorry, this isn't a review. I can't read the book. I've downloaded the PDF and loaded it into Adobe Digital Editions, but when I try and open it, I get an error saying the encrytion key is invalid. I downloaded two other books from LOA at the same time and had no problems with those. Only the Edward Hirsch book.

Some amazing poems in this collection. Loved the authors writing style and generally liked this book.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
In this personal collection of American poetry, the collector has chosen forty of the best lens of American writing to showcase. It is a collection of essays reexamining poems well known to many readers and organized in chronological order by birth year of the poets. The author wrote this book during the year 2020, during the upheaval of social disturbances and an all pervasive virus. He lends his own political view to the writings as he evaluates the poems from American history. This is a book of poetry, essays and commentary on America. The reader may agree or not agree with the commentary essays but the authors personal voice has merit and wants to be heard. Interesting American historical record of poems worthwhile the student and reader alike.