To Be the Poet (Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Maxine Hong Kingston
- First Published: 2002
- Type of Work: Nonfiction
- Genres: Nonfiction
- Subjects: Poetry or poets, Writing, Creative process, China or Chinese people, Chinese Americans
The title of the work defines its contents: This is not Kingston celebrating herself as a poet; rather, it is her own journalistic “how to” study based on personal efforts. Ironic, witty, self-deprecating, and at the same time mocking the pretensions of the academic establishment, this work must be read aloud to be fully appreciated, for its prose sections have driving poetic rhythms that will be missed in silent readings. Based on her 2000 William E. Massey Lectures at Harvard, To Be the Poet proclaims Kingston's wish as she moves toward retirement to finish the...
[The entire page is 720 words long]
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