Product Description

A remarkable series of audiobooks, featuring distinguished twentieth-century American poets reading from their own work. A first in audiobook publishing--a series that uses the written word to enhance the listening experience--poetry to be read as well as heard. Each audiobook includes rare archival recordings and a book with the text of the poetry, a bibliograohy, and commentary by J. D. McClatchy, the poet and critic, who is the editor of The Yale Review.

"To hear a poem spoken in the voice of the person who wrote it is not only to witness the rising of words off the page and into the air, but to experience an aural reenactment of exactly what the poet must have heard, if only internally, during the act of composition. THE VOICE OF THE POET recordings deliver these pleasures as they broadcast the pitch and timbre of many of the major voices in twentieth-century poetry."--Billy Collins, U.S,. Poet Lauerate.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18215 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-18
• Released on: 2003-03-18
• Formats: Audiobook, Unabridged
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Audio CD

From AudioFile
The experience of listening to a poet read his own work is like no other. The visceral connection between poet and poems is keenly felt, and with a poet like Frost, who reads his own work well, the listener is offered a chance to glean meaning and emphasis possibly missed on a page. Robert Frost's voice is deep and resonant, reflecting age, but also the purposeful choice of words. His rural themes carry the rhythms of Yankee speech, which in his voice accentuate the loneliness and winter bleakness. Hearing Frost's work aloud is not the same experience as silent reading of a page. Editor J.D. McClatchy's excellent notes and accompanying booklet of the poems' text are valuable editions. The option to select the poems from the CD tracks is especially useful. R.F.W. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Beautiful
Frost has never been one of my favourite poets / writers, though I do read and enjoy him and appreciate a lot of his work constitutes a landmark in 20th century literature. In terms of voice I didn't know what to expect. I put the cd in my laptop and my attention was grabbed from the moment he started reciting until the recording was over. It is now apparent to me that Frost was a master storyteller and this recording has actually increased my appetite for his work. Recommended to anyone interested in poetry performance.

Delightful
I bought this for my wife who had raved about Frost for ages.When I saw that we could get him reading his work I thought this better tha book. To have him read while I read the text is a sheer delight,how the words LIVE.
Thank you.

Excellent!
I love this cd - it's fabulous. In response to some of the other reviews - of course the sound quality isn't great - he died in the 1960's, and was quite old. I'm grateful someone put together this collection with the recordings they had available. I've had no trouble hearing each and every word, and was not aware that there weren't enough pauses in between the tracks.

Did he read too fast? I doubt it. The one who wrote the poetry reads it as it's supposed to be read, imho. It's fascinating to hear how it would've come out of his own head.

I highly recommend it.