American Poetry of the Twentieth Century

This volume gives an account of the development of American poetry from the early years of the 20th century.

It examines the historical and cultural forces that have helped to shape it and sets it within its wider context to examine those qualities that make modern American poetry both specifically "modern" and definitely "American".The book makes use of recent theories concerning the relationship between the text and the context, and between literature and other dimensions of experience and also aims to help the reader to understand particular works and personalities in American poetry.It should be of value to undergraduates and graduate students reading American literature or American studies, and to those interested in the development of writing and poetry.