Product Description

In asking "Who, as a writer, am I?", E.E. Cummings's affirmation of life resolved into serenity as he described himself as someone "whose only happiness is to transcend himself, whose every agony is to grow." This collection of Cummings reading his own poetry embodies this in an unforgettable way.

While perhaps best remembered for his use of such visual devices as typography and punctuation, the sheer sound of Cummings's work imparts a greater, deeper understanding of how its cadences reveal its profound meaning. This rich sampling of his poems is rendered in what the great Robert Graves called Cummings's "own beautifully modulated voice."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #92914 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-01
• Released on: 2007-07-24
• Formats: Audiobook, Unabridged
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Audio CD

About the Author
e.e. cummings (1894-1962) was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After earning a B.A. and M.A. at Harvard in Latin and Greek, he went to France as a volunteer ambulance driver with the French army during World War I. The majority of his life was spent writing poetry and painting in New York's Greenwich Village.

From AudioFile
This compilation of poetry read by the author is indeed essential listening for those who love his work. The poet, known for his lowercase letters and quirky phrases, shares his natural phrasing and original cadences. He reads slowly, deliberately. Even a line like a hero equals any jerk who is afraid to dare to answer no is read solemnly, with cummings lingering only over the word jerk revealing the merest hint of humor. Cummingss quizzical introspections on various topics are filled with his questioning and idiosyncratic imagination. Put on this CD for a crowd of poetry lovers and host a night of singular performance by a beloved American poet. Or hoard its singularity for your personal listening pleasure. R.F. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

The author delivers his poetry
What a treat! EE Cummings reads his poetry in this short audio book. His poems are so full of life and layers of meaning. Listening to him adds an additional layer of enjoyment as well.