The Happy Birthday of Death
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Book Overview
It is true that he has been one of the inner circle of the 'Beats' from the first, but many admirers of his poetry feel that it belongs quite as much to other and older traditions in world literature. One of these is the revival of pure poetry whenever an "original"--be it Rimbaud or Whitman--has broken with current verse conventions to give free rein to the magic of language. Another is that ancient pre-occupation of poets--the sense of the immediacy of death. Like Villon or Dylan Thomas, Corso lives close to the mystery of death. It is, perhaps, his central theme, on which variations ranging from the terrible to the comic are sounded. But Corso is seldom macabre. A bursting vitality always carries him back to the sensations of the living, though always it is the reality behind the obvious which has caught his eye. "How I love to probe life," Corso has written, "That's what poetry is to me, a wondrous prober... It's not the metre or measure of a line, a breath; not 'law' music; but the assembly of great eye sounds placed into an inspired measured idea."
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0811200272
ISBN13:9780811200271
Release Date:January 1960
Publisher:New Directions Publishing Corporation
Length:92 Pages
Weight:0.28 lbs.
Dimensions:0.3" x 5.2" x 7.9"
Related Subjects
PoetryCustomer Reviews
5 ratings
From a rainy afternoon...
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
I fell upon this book in my university library on a cold, miserable, lonely afternoon. I sat under a maple tree and reading it suddenly I am uplifted, inspired renewed and in love with the verse of Corso, so much so that I had to not only own it but write essays about it, I am, like so many others saddened and grieving that he is so understated. "Marriage" is particularly delectable, though my favourites would have to be "Hair" and "Park". Corso gives what so many poets do not; a joyous and truly wonderous love of words, such that my own writer spirit is awakened. I recommend this book highly to any with a youthful, playful spirit. This is for the artist's heart. Corso has moved me, for you I hope he will do the same.
The most underated writings of the 20th century
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
Perhaps the man who along with Allan Ginsberg altered the way poetry was written and percieved. This is by far his most eclectic collection, featuring the masterful BOMB (perhaps the ultimate epithath for the 20th century) and the brilliant and moving MARRIAGE, POWER, CLOWN and POLICE more of the contents that show what a clever witty deep commentator Corso is. Poems you can mull ove? Definatly! Poems you can analyse? Undoubtable! But here is a collection you can read again and again and enjoy again and again.
Corso:simply brilliant
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
Gregory Corso must have been sitting in an empty room, with nothing more to think of than the emotions controlling his mind. In this book of poetry, the reader will gain a new appreciation for his work. The Happy Birthday of Death is one of the most powerful, and intense collections of writing available.
it was a great book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
I recomend this book to everyone.it is funny,intellegent,and thrifting
Gregory Corso, Pure Poet.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
Gregory Corso is the only member of the Beat Generation who seems to be left out of the current revival of the Beats literature among today's youth. Which is a shame , because they're missing out on what is, in my opinion, the best poetry of the genre. "The Happy Birthday of Death" is the best example of this, as Corso makes a language that is uniquely his own, the sign of a first-class poet. The best poem is without a doubt "Bomb", his love ode (!) to nuclear war, but other titles such as "Power", "Army", "Police", and "Marriage" stand out as well as examples of "pure poetry" (to quote Ginsberg), deep in imagery and passion. The problem is, most people have never had the pleasure to read Corso's work. For myself, I don't know what I'd do without it.
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