Today's Viet Nam letter introduces Hai-Dang Phan's preface to his selection and translations from the poems of Phan Nhiên Hạo. Both men are Americans.
The one who writes in Vietnamese knows more American literature in English than you do. Also anthropology. Today's letter is my third run at writing about this book of poems.
One afternoon later this week I will write my fifth about it, scheduled to launch at the substack in June. I used to go into the Sterling Memorial Library
to gather everything published in English about some American poet or poem and select among them for approval by the critic Harold Bloom. You might be startled
how little I found on some, maybe not, but unless you have done this kind of work you would be amazed at how the vast heap of critics who have piled on a few works and authors
winnows down to a handful when you look for something entertaining and informative to pass along to an interested reader. Writing a poem, Robert Graves said,
a real poem, is like getting hit by lightning. Rare and remarkable. To observe and report one of those strikes is even more rare.
So, you know, since most of us are average most of the time I don't expect to stand out in literary criticism. I do however address the facts
and speak my taste. My work for Harold taught me that I so therefore may become of use. Please consider joining my walk in the storm
by subscribing for free to these letters. Please consider patronizing the others at $50/year or subsidizing the whole project at $250/year.
The war machine of the United States encourages you in this charity by deducting any gift from tax on your income.
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Today's Viet Nam letter introduces Hai-Dang Phan's preface to his selection and translations from the poems of Phan Nhiên Hạo. Both men are Americans.
The one who writes in Vietnamese knows more American literature in English than you do. Also anthropology. Today's letter is my third run at writing about this book of poems.
One afternoon later this week I will write my fifth about it, scheduled to launch at the substack in June. I used to go into the Sterling Memorial Library
to gather everything published in English about some American poet or poem and select among them for approval by the critic Harold Bloom. You might be startled
how little I found on some, maybe not, but unless you have done this kind of work you would be amazed at how the vast heap of critics who have piled on a few works and authors
winnows down to a handful when you look for something entertaining and informative to pass along to an interested reader. Writing a poem, Robert Graves said,
a real poem, is like getting hit by lightning. Rare and remarkable. To observe and report one of those strikes is even more rare.
So, you know, since most of us are average most of the time I don't expect to stand out in literary criticism. I do however address the facts
and speak my taste. My work for Harold taught me that I so therefore may become of use. Please consider joining my walk in the storm
by subscribing for free to these letters. Please consider patronizing the others at $50/year or subsidizing the whole project at $250/year.
The war machine of the United States encourages you in this charity by deducting any gift from tax on your income.