Gods and Mortals by Nina Kossman
More than perhaps any other folkloric tradition, whether oral or written, the myths of classical Greece and Rome have survived and pervaded the consciousness of lands far-flung from their source. The mythic world of the ancients, peopled by glamorous gods and unstoppable heroes, in which the mortal and immortal commingled, is even now a living presence in 21st century culture, rather than a literary relic. Whether we know them by their Roman or their Greek names - Artemis or Minerva, Poseidon or Neptune - the figures of these ancietn myths captured the imagination of culture after culture across the globe, inspiring writers, artists, musicians and those of us who comprise the audience for their works. Can it be a coincidence that the greatest poets of the western world have each at one point tried their hand at retellings? Kossman's anthology assembles some of the best of these poems inspired by ancient myths, organizing them by themse, and allowing the reader to compare one against the other - for example, one section assembels poems telling the stories of mythic lovers (Cupid and Psyche, Orpheus and Eurydice); another the many tales of miraculous transformations (Pygmalion and Galatea, Echo and Narcissus). With such a wide variety of the world's best poets to choose from - from all over the world and from any era since classical times - Kossman has had no difficulty creating a literary pantheon; included are D. H. Lawrence, Derek Walcott, Rita Dove, Denise Levertov, Rilke, Pound, and Yeats. The collection should be a treasure for the innumerable debotees of both myth and poetry.
"Gods And Mortals is a fascinating collection of poems that brings together the classic and the contemporary, the 'old' and the 'new,' in unexpected and startling waysNina Kossman has brought together a richly imaginative gathering of memorable work."--Joyce Carol Oates "This is an appealing collection for students of poetry and myth, and a must for anyone who teaches a course dealing with classical myth."--Choice "Gods And Mortals is a fascinating collection of poems that brings together the classic and the contemporary, the 'old' and the 'new,' in unexpected and startling ways. Nina Kossman has brought together a richly imaginative gathering of memorable work."--Joyce Carol Oates "An appealing collection for students of poetry and myth, and a must for anyone who teaches a course dealing with classical myth." Choice
Nina Kossman is the author of several books of poetry in Russian and English as well as a collection of short narratives. A recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, hse has translated two volumes of Marina Tsvetaeva's poetry. Her fiction wona UNESCO/PEN Short Story Award in London and was broadcast on the BBC World Service.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780195133417 |
| ISBN 10 | 0195133412 |
| Title | Gods and Mortals |
| Author | Nina Kossman |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press Inc |
| Year published | 2001-05-24 |
| Number of pages | 316 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |