Josephine Miles Criticism
Josephine Miles was a distinguished American poet, critic, and scholar whose work is celebrated for its quiet understatement and simplicity. Her poetry embodies a reserved quality that has drawn both admiration and critique, often being described as narrow in vision by some detractors. However, her work masterfully captures the essence of American life, particularly focusing on California, as noted by Stephen Mooney, who emphasizes her ability to depict reality through tangible details and a hopeful lens.
Miles's poetic oeuvre reveals a confident voice capable of intertwining abstract thought with profound emotional insight, as discussed in Arthur K. Oberg's review of her work, Kinds of Affection. In Vernon Young's analysis of "To All Appearances," he articulates how her poetry reflects a personal engagement that challenges previous criticism of her work as merely empirical.
Helen Vendler's examination highlights Miles's unique blend of humor and moral truth in her depiction of contemporary American life, likening her voice to that of Emily Dickinson for its humane touch. David Shapiro further explores the didactic and deeply engaging nature of her poetry, which uses domestic imagery to convey broader parables and reflections on community.
James K. Robinson underscores Miles's exploration of American identity, focusing on how her subtle observations address the individual's relationship with cultural and historical constructs. Collectively, these critical insights affirm Josephine Miles's significant contribution to American poetry, showcasing her as a poet of both depth and subtlety.
Contents
- Miles, Josephine (Vol. 1)
- Miles, Josephine (Vol. 2)
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Miles, Josephine (Vol. 14)
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Josephine Miles: Successive Views
(summary)
In the following essay, Stephen Mooney argues that Josephine Miles's poetry captures human-scale reality through successive views and tangible details, focusing on American life, particularly California, with an affectionate and hopeful lens that accepts the imperfections and joys of the present world.
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A Review of Josephine Miles's Latest Book
(summary)
In the following essay, Arthur K. Oberg argues that Josephine Miles's Kinds of Affection embodies a confident and skilled poetic voice unafraid to merge abstract thought with deep emotional insight, revealing a new kind of poem that balances restlessness with rest and reflects an evolution in Miles's poetic oeuvre.
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The Body of Man
(summary)
In the following essay, Vernon Young argues that Josephine Miles's collection "To All Appearances" reveals her true poetic voice, characterized by personal engagement and suppressed indignation, challenging critics who previously underestimated her work as merely empirical and denotative.
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A Quarter of Poetry
(summary)
In the following essay, Helen Vendler explores Josephine Miles's "To All Appearances," highlighting her unique blend of humor, moral truth, and engaging commentary on contemporary American life, while noting the metaphysical depth in her work and her distinct, humane voice reminiscent of Emily Dickinson.
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Into the Gloom
(summary)
In the following essay, David Shapiro explores the richness and complexity of Josephine Miles's poetry, emphasizing its didactic nature, domestic yet profound imagery, and its ability to convey parables that reflect a cohesive community of the heart, all within a framework of moderate, yet maximalist, poetic expression.
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Sassenachs, Palefaces, and a Redskin: Graves, Auden, MacLeish, Hollander, Wagoner, and Others
(summary)
In the following essay, James K. Robinson examines Josephine Miles's poetry, highlighting her use of subtle and impactful observations to explore themes of American identity and the individual's relationship with the landscape and cultural constructs of Adams and Jefferson.
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Josephine Miles: Successive Views
(summary)