The Poet's Craft: Interviews from the New York Quarterly

This updating of Packard's collection of interviews with contemporary poets includes only 13 of the 17 published in the 1974 version but adds 12 poets. The theme of these question-and-answer sessions is craft, as in: ""Do you work at a desk?''; ``Do you revise?''; ``Do you carry a notebook?''; ``Do you play word games?'' While the poets oblige with detailed discussions of their work habits, they are also expansive, relaxed and obviously enjoying the opportunity to talk at length about their lives and works (with the notable exception of James Dickey, who comes across as irascible and arrogant). The questioners are gracious, enthusiastic and so well informed about their subjects that they draw them out wonderfully. Starting with Auden, the interviewees include Ginsberg, Levertov, Kinnell, Ashbery, Rukeyser, Creeley, Snodgrass and Swenson. This book may serve as reference to scholars, advice to young poets or sheer entertainment for anyone interested in contemporary poetry. (January)