Howard Moss Criticism
Howard Moss was a distinguished American poet, critic, and playwright, best known for his long tenure as the poetry editor of The New Yorker. His works are celebrated for their masterful blend of wit, humor, and emotional depth. Moss excelled in light verse, as exemplified in A Swim off the Rocks, where poems like "Horror Movie" balance humor with profundity, a quality praised by Harold Bloom. G. E. Murray highlights Moss's ability to mix cleverness with serious craftsmanship, challenging the perception of light verse's significance. J. D. McClatchy notes Moss's skillful manipulation of language to blend wit and melancholy. Another notable work, Buried City, intertwines art and suspense with subversive techniques, as explored by W. G. Regier. Through these works, Moss has left a lasting impact on contemporary poetry, emphasizing the enduring significance of both light and serious verse.
Contents
- Moss, Howard (Vol. 7)
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Moss, Howard (Vol. 14)
- Josephine Jacobsen
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The Year's Books: (Part I)
(summary)
In the following essay, Harold Bloom praises Howard Moss's A Swim off the Rocks for its excellence in light verse, highlighting "Horror Movie" as a standout poem that effectively balances humor and profundity.
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Review: 'Buried City'
(summary)
In the following essay, W. G. Regier explores Howard Moss's Buried City as a work that intertwines art, humor, and suspense, suggesting its subversive techniques and rhythmic patterns deepen its thematic exploration of an inescapable and metaphorical "buried life."
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Book Reviews: 'A Swim off the Rocks'
(summary)
In the following essay, G. E. Murray argues that Howard Moss's poetry, particularly in "A Swim off the Rocks," masterfully combines cleverness and whimsy with serious craftsmanship, showcasing his skill in depicting both urban life and light verse, while challenging the notion that only "serious" writing is important.
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Grace and Rude Will
(summary)
In the following essay, J. D. McClatchy contends that Howard Moss's collection "A Swim Off The Rocks" exemplifies the duality of light verse by blending wit and melancholy, using clever language manipulation to critique meaning while evoking both humor and deeper emotional resonance.